Jajpur-based civil society Sukinda Vikash Parishad, has written to the illegal mining enquirer Justice M B Shah Commission about illegal mining activities carried out by state-run Industrial Development Corporation Orissa Ltd (Idcol).
“Idcol, a public sector undertaking of Government of Orissa has been continuing mining operation illegally in Talangi chromite mines located in Sukinda Chrome Valley in Jajpur district,” said the president of Sukinda Vikash Parishad in the letter addressed to the Commission.
The forum alleged that Idcol has violated the Orissa Forest Preservation Act by dumping excavated ores in forest areas.
The company has even operated beyond lease area of the Talangi mines, causing severe damage to the embankment of Damsala Nala, a permanent stream passing through the mined area.
The forum in its letter said Idcol has also ignored Indian Bureau of Mines norms regarding mineral excavation.
“Idcol has allowed its raising contractor to raise chrome ore beyond the targeted quantity violating IBM norms. Even now the illegal mining operation is going on in Talangi mine,” said the Parishad letter to the Commission.
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The Government of India has appointed Shah Commission to probe illegal mining cases in six states. During its visit to Orissa in December, the commission had found government officials involved in illegal mining activities in the state.
In its complaint letter to the Commission, the Sukinda development forum wrote about the connivance of government officials in illegal mining.
But Idcol officials, reacting to the forum's complaint, said these allegations were baseless.
“We operate only one mine in the area and all the activities are supervised by government agencies. We are a government-run company and have no interest to make money out of illegal mining,” said Chandra Sekhar Mishra, head of mining division of Idcol.
The state government, taking cognisance of the matter, has recently ordered the Director of Mines to take appropriate action on the matter. It may be noted that another state-run miner Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) is also in the dock for mining rule violations.