Mines beyond lease area to be marked out

The State Government would soon launch a drive to identify the mines that had been allegedly operating outside the leased area. Official sources said this came in response to a suggestion from the Justice M B Shah Commission, which completed its third  phase investigation in Odisha on Saturday.

However, very few cases of encroachment have been  observed through digital mapping system. Digital mapping without ground survey is inconclusive, sources said, adding that no cases of blatant violation of mining laws have been detected.

The State has already introduced differential global positioning system (DGPS) in demarcating boundaries in mining areas.

The Shah Commission, probing the illegal mining operation in three States, including Odisha, had asked the State Government to ensure identification of mines, which had been operating from outside the leased area.

 Earlier, team leader of the panel U V Singh had said the commission is investigating into mining outside lease area also. “We will examine it,” he had said.

According to official sources, the government had already constituted a joint committee comprising members from Revenue, Steel and Mines and Forest Departments to verify the alleged mining operation outside the lease area.

Meanwhile, the commission had on Saturday completed its third phase verification of documents and files in the State. Set to submit its first phase investigation report by December, the commission’s investigation would remain open till the last moment.

The commission completed verification of documents related to 145-150 mines. However, some manganese mining lease cases could not be taken up due to shortage of time.

The Shah Commission, during its three-phase probe, has verified 160 iron ore and manganese mines. The remaining 32 cases were manganese mines.