Illegal mining: MB Shah Commission gets 3-month extension

New Delhi: The Union Government has extended the tenure of Justice MB Shah Commission, which is inquiring into illegal iron ore and manganese ore mining, giving it time until October to submit its final report. “The Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, today decided to give Justice MB Shah Commission an extension of three months,” an official source said.  On reports of large scale illegal mining and failure of states to effectively curb this menace, Centre had set up the one-man panel in November, 2010. It was initially supposed to submit the final report within 18 months from the date of first sitting. The Commission had its first sitting on 17 January, 2011 and thus, was required to submit the final report on or before 16 July, 2012. However, Cabinet in July, 2012 had decided to give it a one-year extension given the voluminous data the Commission had to collect and compile on mining from states such as Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa and Madhya Pradesh. It was required to submit its report by 16 July, 2013. The Shah Commission has also been empowered to recommend remedial measures to prevent illegal mining, trade and export done illegally or without lawful authority. The Commission, which recommended a total ban on iron ore and manganese ore exports, has submitted two interim reports. Of this, one was on illegal iron ore mining across the country and the other on illegal mining in Goa. It had also made a few other recommendations on which the Mines Ministry has already initiated some actions. The Cabinet today decided to send the actions taken by the Ministry to a Committee of Secretaries to ascertain whether these measures are appropriate or more actions are required to be taken. PTI