The Mines Ministry is likely to give another one year extension to the Justice M B Shah Commission, which is currently probing illegal mining issues in seven mineral-rich states, as it is yet to cover four states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra even though its current tenure is coming to end on July 16, 2013.
If the extension is given, which looks imminent, the decision could assume significant proportions as at least three of the aforementioned states are to face assembly polls in the near future and had the panel completed its probe on time, then its findings could have left an impact on the outcome of the impending polls and even on the 2014 lok Sabha elections.
According to sources privy to the development, Mines Minister Dinsha Patel last week received a request from the panel seeking an extension on the ground that it was yet to cover a significant number of states and for this it required another 12 months time. Patel, sources said, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week itself to discuss the matter and the proposal for extension is likely to be brought before the Cabinet within a couple of weeks time as the panel was formed by the decision of the Union Cabinet.
Once accepted by the Cabinet, this would be the second extension for the Commission, which had been given a 12-month extension last year also. Till a year back, it had only visited Karnataka and Goa, while a comprehensive tour of Odisha was yet to be conducted by it.
Though on the face of it the decision seems to be a routine one and also based on merit, the readiness with which the Centre seems to have accepted the panel’s extension request seems to indicate towards the fact that with the scourge of illegal mining likely to show several State Governments in poor light, irrespective of the parties at the helm there, none of the States would be too comfortable with its findings.
Moreover, with States like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra facing assembly polls in the next six to 18 months, the postponement of the Shah panel’s final report on illegal mining would definitely suit all the respective States considering the political ramifications it may have on the results.
Meanwhile, the panel which was constituted by the Centre in November 2010, till date has so far submitted an interim report on overall illegal mining issues across the country which was laid in Parliament by Patel in December 2011 during the Winter session; and a preliminary report on illegal mining activities in Goa.
The Commission has so far visited Goa, Odisha and Karnataka and according to sources, is in the process of finalising reports on Odisha and Karnataka. In April this year, the Commission had wrapped up its investigations (which also included hearings of stakeholders) in Odisha and it is reliably learnt that an interim report has already been prepared by it on the illegal mining activities in the state.
In its interim report on Goa, the Commission had reportedly pegged a Rs 34,935 crore loss to the exchequer due to illegal mining in the State.