Niranjan Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, Jan. 9: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee today reiterated its demand for a CBI inquiry into the multi-crore mining scam.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said: “The Congress will never retreat from its demand for a CBI probe. The state government has already admitted its guilt by imposing a fine of Rs 70,000 crore for excess mining. The Congress will vigorously pursue the mining scam.”

The state government imposed fines on various mining companies for excavating ore beyond their mining rights. It swung into action last November while the Justice MB Shah Commission was inquiring into the illegal mining activities.

Reacting to reports that the Congress is shy of making mining scam a core issue, Patnaik said whoever indulged in the scam should be taken to task. “We have decided to include the mining scam in our committee’s executive political resolution,” he said.

Earlier, the state government had said there was no need for a CBI inquiry into the scam. Steel and mines minister Rajanikant Singh said: “The state government always adopts a transparent method while dealing with the issue. We are ready for any inquiry. One should wait for the Shah commission’s report. However, the vigilance department has done a fine job in this regard.”

Sources said the Shah commission was preparing the illegal mining report. “The panel may come out with a preliminary report before finalising the final report,” said a senior officer of the steel and mines department.

The commission visited the state twice last year to probe into the scam. It had visited the mineral-rich belt of Keonjhar and Sundergah before rummaging though hundreds of files related to the leasing of mines.