Mining scam: Govt rejects Oppn demand for CBI probe
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday again rejected the demand f the Opposition for a CBI inquiry into the mining scam.
Rejecting the demand in the State Assembly, steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said that the State Vigilance that has already started an impartial probe into the mining scam, would go ahead with the inquiry and everyone should provide the support.
Replying to an adjournment motion on the mining scam, the minister said that both the people and state government have faith in the functioning of the State Vigilance.
The Opposition should keep faith in the investigation process of Vigilance. Whoever is involved in the mining scam would be brought to the book, he said, adding that after investigations have started nine cases have been registered.
He also said that prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed near the railway sidings to curb illegal lifting of ores.
Earlier raising the issue, BJP Legislature Party leader KV Singhdeo said that though the scam was exposed a year ago, the state government has so far registered only seven cases.
No action has yet been taken against the Director of the Ram Bahadur Thakur Limited (RBTL) and Arjun Lodha Company, Singhdeo said, adding that the Union mines minister had already admitted that there was massive looting in the mining sector.
The people would not excuse the state government for hiding the mining scam, he said, adding that rampant illegal mining was still going on.
Terming the mining scam as the scam of the century, Opposition chief whip Prasad Harichandan said that the state government has no motive to check the mining scam.
Justifying his contention, he said that in an average, 5,000 trucks are still carrying the illegal minerals every day.
Besides, minerals are still being transported through Banspani railway and Juruli railway stations, he added.
The state government is trying to hoodwink the people and the state by arresting a few people involved in the mining business while the fact remains that the real culprits are still roaming freely, Harichandan said.
Supporting his party colleague, Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja alleged that rampant corruption was going on in the mineral rich belt.
Companies having no industries have got the mining lease, Saluja said, adding that only the CBI inquiry would expose the entire scam.
However, Treasury Bench members including Kalpataru Das maintained that the CBI does not have the necessary infrastructure to probe into the mining scam.