Civil society forum Samaj Andolan staged a demonstration in front of the residence of Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick here on Wednesday protesting the State Government’s signing of lease deeds with the mining companies which were allegedly involved in mining scam. later, memorandums were submitted to the Chief Minister, the Mines Minister and the Director of Mines.
Members of the forum said the State went on signing lease deeds with the mining companies by sidelining the MB Shah Commission’s report, which recommended collecting fine of Rs 59,000 crore from lessees. The Government even defied its own order issued earlier for collection of fine of Rs 68,000 crore from mining lessees and signed the lease deeds with the ‘tainted’ companies, they added.
Samaj Andolan secretary Kahnu Charan Behura said people of the State are still poor and work as migrant labourers outside of the State to eke out a living even after 68 years of Independence. “It’s very painful to see that the minerals-rich State’s people are living in miserable condition,” said Behura. The forum urged the Government to ban export of minerals and try to set up labour-intensive industries by ensuring 100 per cent employment to locals. It suggested to the Government to set up of agriculture-based and food processing industries to support farmers and small entrepreneurs. The forum demanded that fine from the lessees be collected immediately before signing lease deeds.