Shah Commission report on Odisha likely to be delayed

The presentation of the M B Shah Commission report on the mining scam in Odisha is likely to be delayed primarily because of the committee decision to go for another physical verification of the mining areas of the state in different districts, particularly in the two mineral rich districts of Keonjhar and Sundergarh.

The commission has taken the important decision after many mine owners expressed their dissatisfaction and raised objections on the mapping of the mining areas with the help of global positioning system. “During the just concluded hearings of the commission several mine owners had demanded that there should be a physical verification of the mining lease areas,” a state government source said.

The commission, which is probing into irregularities in mining sector in different states, however, has agreed to the demand of the mining lease holders with the condition that the cost of the physical mapping will be bore by them(the mine owners). They would have to pay Rs 4 lakh for each square kilometre of mapping.

As per the direction of the commission, the state government will form five separate teams to verify about 40-odd mines in Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts. While three teams will be engaged in Keonjhar, the rest two will go to Sundergarh. Each team will have seven members consisting of officials and experts from forest, mining and revenue departments besides a scientist from the state-run Odisha Space Application Centre.

As the physical mapping of the mining areas is a technical job, the state government would have a training programme for the officers who will be involved in the process. The government will also have a committee in the state level to monitor the work of the five teams on the field.

Apart from the state government officials, the committee is also likely to have representatives from the commission as well as Indian Bureau of Mines as its members.

While winding up the latest round of hearings , the chairman of the commission justice M B Shah himself had indicated about the delay in presentation of the report.