‘Indian Railway part of mining scam in Odisha: Oppn

Bhubaneswar: Opposition Congress and BJP on Tuesday demanded a CBI probe into the multi-crore mining scam, saying the agency should expose alleged link between railway officials and mine mafia.

The state government, however, rejected the opposition demand stating that Vigilance wing was competent to probe the scam.

The demand was made in the State Assembly during a debate on an adjournment motion on mining scam.

Railway officials are hand-in-glove with mines mafia who looted valuable minerals, Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan alleged.

He pointed out how the State Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during a field visit to Bansapani railway siding on January 22 found 15,000 MT of manganese stored illegally.

He wondered what action was taken against the railway officials who transported smuggled minerals and how the Vigilance Department could not detect it.