<p>The Justice M B Shah commission that is probing into the irregularities in mining in several states in the country will visit Odisha in the third week of February.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources in the secretariat said the commission has already conveyed to the state government about the proposed visit. The fourth visit could be the panel’s last visit to the state before it submits its final report on the mining scam in Odisha.<br /><br />On January 12, representatives and lawyers of the Odisha government had met the commission in its Ahmedabad office and requested it to hear the state government’s views as per the provisions under the Commission of Inquiry Act before submitting the final report. On the same day, a delegation of private mine owners and their lawyers had made a similar request to the commission in its Gujarat office. Some of the well known lawyers in the country were part of the mine owners’ delegation. Sources said the commission decided to make another visit to Odisha in this regard. <br /><br />The commission, led by Justice Shah, had made its maiden trip to the state in December, 2011 and conducted a two-day-long public hearing here besides making a field visit. Members of the panel had made two more visits to the state in October and November. Justice Shah was not part of the team during these two visits. However, during the upcoming trip, justice Shah himself could be part of the probing team.<br /><br />During their last trip in November, the panel members had spent nearly two weeks in the capital city here scrutinising as many as 180 files and papers relating to the mining activities in the state. They had also visited a few mining areas in different districts. Before leaving the state, the team members had told the media that this could be the panel’s last trip before submission of the final report on Odisha.</p>
<p>The Justice M B Shah commission that is probing into the irregularities in mining in several states in the country will visit Odisha in the third week of February.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Sources in the secretariat said the commission has already conveyed to the state government about the proposed visit. The fourth visit could be the panel’s last visit to the state before it submits its final report on the mining scam in Odisha.<br /><br />On January 12, representatives and lawyers of the Odisha government had met the commission in its Ahmedabad office and requested it to hear the state government’s views as per the provisions under the Commission of Inquiry Act before submitting the final report. On the same day, a delegation of private mine owners and their lawyers had made a similar request to the commission in its Gujarat office. Some of the well known lawyers in the country were part of the mine owners’ delegation. Sources said the commission decided to make another visit to Odisha in this regard. <br /><br />The commission, led by Justice Shah, had made its maiden trip to the state in December, 2011 and conducted a two-day-long public hearing here besides making a field visit. Members of the panel had made two more visits to the state in October and November. Justice Shah was not part of the team during these two visits. However, during the upcoming trip, justice Shah himself could be part of the probing team.<br /><br />During their last trip in November, the panel members had spent nearly two weeks in the capital city here scrutinising as many as 180 files and papers relating to the mining activities in the state. They had also visited a few mining areas in different districts. Before leaving the state, the team members had told the media that this could be the panel’s last trip before submission of the final report on Odisha.</p>