"We have inspected nine mines during a two-day field visit. For now, we are going back to Bhubaneswar to verify records," Karnataka's Principal Conservator of Forests U V Singh told reporters today.
The six-member team visited five mines during the day and four yesterday in Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts.
During the visit, the panel verified whether the companies undertook mining in their lease areas or the nearby portions, an official said.
The team is scheduled to continue its third phase of investigation till November 11.
