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The Justice MB Shah commission enquiring into illegal mining issues in Odisha on Wednesday will hear on violation of Rule-37 of Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960, an exercise that remained incomplete in its last hearing.
The probe panel on Tuesday heard cases of 27 mines of lessees like Rungta Mines and MGM Group on the first day of its three-day hearing in Ahmedabad.
Issues such as violations of Environment (Protection) Act-1986, Forest Conservation Act -1980 and encroachment beyond the lease area dominated the first day of hearing of the commission.
“They (the lessees) have presented their views on a number of matters. With regard to Rule-37, they have not specifically stated anything. However, they want to point out something. We will hear them,” said MB Shah, chairman of the commission.
Any violations in Environment (Protection) Act-1986 and Forest Conservation Act, 1980 have been regularized later, said Prabodh Mohanty, spokesperson for East Zone Mining Association (EZMA).
The panel will hear on violations of Rule-37 of MCR, 1960 of eight lessees. The lease holders found guilty of the statutory violation include RP Sao, Indrani Patnaik and KJS Ahluwalia to name a few.
“The commission has been informed by the state government on all the action taken basing on the preliminary investigation for violating Rule 37. All the necessary information will be provided further if the commission needs any after listening to the leaseholders,” said Deepak Mohanty, director (mines), Odisha.
The lessees operating in mine rich Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts are also likely to submit a blueprint on CSR (corporate social responsibility) for overall development of the two districts. The commission, during its last hearing, had asked the miners to contribute to the local area development.
The panel will conduct hearing on 57 mines of Odisha of about 40 lessees during the three-day hearing.
