Acting upon Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro’s recommendation, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday ordered a Vigilance probe into the multi-crore illegal iron ore exploitation outside the lease area of Uliburu Iron Ore Mines leased to BK Mohanty.
Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patro, in the wake of the reports of illegal iron ore excavation by BK Mohanty Mines, had swung into action on Wednesday by seeking a detailed inquiry report from the Keonjhar District Collector within 72 hours. The earlier joint verification by Revenue, Forest and Mining officials had pegged the illegal mining worth over `1,800 crore taking into account the royalty, freight charges and details of shipment through the Paradip Port.
On receipt of the report from the Keonjhar district administration on the alleged mining, Revenue Minister Patro said that the prima facie it proved the encroachment of iron ore mines on revenue land, which is outside the lease hold land of BK Mohanty’s mines.
Those officials, irrespective of department and rank, who would be found hand in glove in mining theft and helping in the siphoning of Government revenue worth crores of rupees, would be taken to task, Minister Patro had said after getting the report. The Revenue Minister also had recommended the Chief Minister for conduct of a high level inquiry, preferably a probe by the State Vigilance.
It was alleged that BK Mohanty Mines had excavated illegally by encroaching 35 hectares of which six hectares falls in the Uliburu Reserve forest and the remaining 29 hectares belong to the Revenue department.
M/s Deepak Gupta, who was accorded power of attorney by BK Mohanty Mines to carry out mining operation in the leased area, had excavated iron ore by encroaching 29 hectares of Revenue land. Gupta had also built railway siding and roads outside the leased area, the report said.
According to sources, the Steel and Mines department and Forest department had issued show cause to the company for carrying out illegal mining beyond leased out area in November, 2012. Even the Justice MB Shah Commission probing the illegal mining activities and the multi-crore mining scam across the country had also sought clarification on the activities of BK Mohanty Mines.