Bhubaneswar:
The mining scam has grown manifold in Orissa over the last decade but it's only now that the government has cracked down on mines operating illegally in the region.
In a major offensive against illegal mining activities in Orissa, the state government has suspended mining operations in 128 mines, mostly iron ore and manganese mines.
The action comes 10 years too late, only after it was cornered by the Opposition and media reports. The Supreme Court last week ordered a probe into mining in Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on Jharkhand border.
A petition in the Supreme Court claims of the 300 major mines here, 155 are operating on expired leases, some not renewed for as long as a decade.
Indiscriminate and unmonitored iron ore, manganese and chromite mining has cost the state no less than Rs 50,000 crore.
The state has now swung into action and ordered a dual probe by the State Vigilance department and a Special Task Force, but that sources say is only to stonewall a CBI inquiry.
''We find that, yes, there are large number of violations by the license holders, there have been violations by the mining leaseholders. And that's how as many 128 number of mining lease operations have been suspended,'' said Ashok Dalwai, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Steel & Mines, Orissa.
The Supreme Court has also ordered an independent inquiry by a Centrally Empowered Committee.
"MMDR violations, which is mining in excess of the mineral quantity as approved by the Indian Bureau of Mines, that can also not be inquired into by the CEC. They don't have the powers. So unless and until a CBI inquiry is ordered into the entire scam you won't be able to arrive at the total extent of the scam,'' said Biswajit Mohanty, environmentalist & RTI activist.
The Opposition demand for a CBI inquiry is likely to create a deadlock in the Assembly. Their protests are already giving wind to speculations that top politicians and government officers are involved in the scam.
In a major offensive against illegal mining activities in Orissa, the state government has suspended mining operations in 128 mines, mostly iron ore and manganese mines.
The action comes 10 years too late, only after it was cornered by the Opposition and media reports. The Supreme Court last week ordered a probe into mining in Sundargarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on Jharkhand border.
A petition in the Supreme Court claims of the 300 major mines here, 155 are operating on expired leases, some not renewed for as long as a decade.
Indiscriminate and unmonitored iron ore, manganese and chromite mining has cost the state no less than Rs 50,000 crore.
The state has now swung into action and ordered a dual probe by the State Vigilance department and a Special Task Force, but that sources say is only to stonewall a CBI inquiry.
''We find that, yes, there are large number of violations by the license holders, there have been violations by the mining leaseholders. And that's how as many 128 number of mining lease operations have been suspended,'' said Ashok Dalwai, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Steel & Mines, Orissa.
The Supreme Court has also ordered an independent inquiry by a Centrally Empowered Committee.
"MMDR violations, which is mining in excess of the mineral quantity as approved by the Indian Bureau of Mines, that can also not be inquired into by the CEC. They don't have the powers. So unless and until a CBI inquiry is ordered into the entire scam you won't be able to arrive at the total extent of the scam,'' said Biswajit Mohanty, environmentalist & RTI activist.
The Opposition demand for a CBI inquiry is likely to create a deadlock in the Assembly. Their protests are already giving wind to speculations that top politicians and government officers are involved in the scam.
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