Cong promises CBI probe into Odisha mining, chitfund scam

Bhubaneswar: Promising a CBI probe into illegal mining, chitfund and other scams in Odisha, Congress on Friday said it would review all MoUs signed by BJD government in the state in last 10 years, provide pucca houses to landless and allowance to unemployed youths if voted to power. [caption id=“attachment_1465867” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] “Congress will provide good governance and get scams like mining, water, land and chitfund scandals investigated by CBI,” Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Jaydev Jena said while releasing party’s manifesto for Odisha where both Lok Sabha and Assembly polls are being held. In order to provide corruption free administration, an empowered and strong Lokayukta would be set up in the state by undertaking necessary amendments in the law, Jena said. Effective steps would be taken for protection of precious mineral resources and their proper utilisation, while all MoU’s signed by the state government during the last 10 years would be thoroughly reviewed, he said. No individual and private agencies would be given mining lease, Jena said adding steps would be taken for providing lease to Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and similar other government agencies if Congress is voted to power. While local industrialists would be encouraged, steps would be taken to ensure proper compensation and rehabilitation for people being displaced due to projects, Jena said. Promising proper implementation of Justice M B Shah Commission’s recommendation on mining scams, the Congress manifesto said Rs 60,000 crore would be recovered from those who looted minerals by auctioning their property. While all registered unemployed youths would be provided allowance in five years, over two lakh vacant posts would be filled, Jena said adding minimum pay would be fixed for those working in unorganised and private sector. Stating that all revenue villages would be converted into panchayats, he said a pension scheme would be introduced to cover all marginal and handicapped farmers and landless farm labourers. Similarly, farm loan would be given at 1 per cent interest and loan up to Rs 25,000 will be interest free and farmers would be provided free electricity. All landless persons would be identified and given permanent land patta and pucca house in a time-bound manner, the OPCC chief said adding no one would be allowed to die of starvation for which food security law is in place. All urban slum dwellers would also be provided with pucca houses, Jena said. For the welfare of minority communities, there would be a minority commissioner and special policy would be framed for security of these communities, he said. Recommendations would be made for establishment of permanent benches of Orissa High Court in western and southern regions of the state, while steps would be taken for setting up four medical colleges in these two regions. The headquarters of Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) would be shifted to a main location in western region to make it more effective, he said. PTI