Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Minister Saryu Roy on Thursday wrote to Chief Minister Raghubar Das seeking strict actions against mining companies involved in proxy mining and State officials who allegedly provided patronage to the offenders.
In a letter addressed to the CM, Roy alleged that several mining companies –enjoying patronage of former and current officials of the State mining department—had violated section 37 of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 by indulging in proxy mining.
Even in his book ‘Madhu Koda Loot Raaj’, released in 2012, Roy had elaborately mentioned about the violation of rule 37 of the Mining Concession Rule.
Rule 37 of Mineral Concession Rules debars any lessee to assign, sub-let, mortgage or in any other manner transfer the mining lease or any right, title or interest therein without previous written consent of the state government.
In his letter to the CM, Roy said that the lease of around six mining companies was cancelled after the court’s intervention recently.
“It is learned that some officials of the department had tried to suppress documentary evidences against some of the mining companies accused of violating rule 37 of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. It is shocking and disappointing, but the question still remains unanswered – why did mining officials do such a thing?” the letter states.
Further, Roy has mentioned a few companies that have been violating the rules since 2011 and no actions have been taken against them.
“The companies enjoy patronage of some principal secretary and additional collector rank officials,” Roy told this newspaper on Thursday.
Stating an example, he said that a private company, Singbhum Minerals, had violated the Mining Concession Rules during the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) regime and the government had ordered immediate cancellation of their lease. However, no actions have been taken against the company despite the order, he added.
A private mining company, Taurian, had for several years deposited the lease amount in another company NKPK’s bank account, he said. The latter had transferred its lease to Taurian in exchange of money, he added.
“It is my humble request to the CM to take strict actions against all the mining officials who have been protecting private companies that violate the Mineral Compensation Rules, 1960,” Rai said.