Shah commission extends Odisha illegal mining hearing

Bhubaneswar: On a visit to probe illegal mining activities in Odisha, Justice M B Shah Commission on Thursday extended its ongoing hearing by one more day till Saturday to give full opportunity to the accused mine lessees. Justice Shah, which was scheduled to end its hearing on Friday, said, “We will hear the mine lessees till Saturday. Those who want to say more, they can come over to Ahmedabad.” Asked whether there was any illegal mining in the state, Justice Shah said: “Unless there is illegal mining, there is no inquiry.” Noting that the commission was giving full opportunities to mine owners to justify that they were not indulged in illegal mining activities, Justice Shah said all were being given full chance. The mining companies need to satisfy the commission that they did not violated the law of the land and operated as per the existing rules, he said. During its second day hearing, the panel heard the case of at least 20 iron ore and manganese mines. Prominent of the mining companies were Arjun Ladha, Rungta Mines Limited, Essel Mining and Industries Limited, Jindal Steel and Power Limited. “In most of the cases, the commission detected severe violation of mining plan, environmental laws, forest acts and some where mining beyond mining lease area,” a senior official of the commission said. The lessees who failed to satisfy the commission about their activities during the hearing here, have been given further opportunity to appear before it in Ahmedabad, the official said. The mining companies have been told to appear before the commission on March 15 and March 16. PTI