Bhubaneswar, June 3: Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra today demanded a judicial probe into the state government's alleged support to the L&T's bid to get bauxite mining leases in Rayagada and Koraput districts.

Addressing a news conference here, Mishra said: "A few days ago, the state government recommended the L&T's name to the Centre to give it two bauxite mines in Kalahandi and Raygada districts. This had earlier been rejected by the Centre in 2001."

Mishra said: "In 1992, the perspective licence (PL) was given to the company with a condition that it would make value addition to it within one year. But as the group did not make any effort to do so despite several requests by the state government, its application for mining lease was cancelled in 2001."

The L&T had proposed to set up a one million tonne alumina refinery by procuring bauxite from the two mines - Kuturmali and Sijumali.

These two mines have 200-million tonnes of reserves. But, the project could not take off because of stiff resistance from local people, who said the project would displace them and that mining operations would pollute the environment.

Mishra said the application for mining lease (ML) was cancelled but efforts had been made to give these two mines to the Vedanta Group through the L&T.

"After Rahul Gandhi took up the battle of the tribal people, mining in Niyamgiri hills, which has rich deposit of bauxites, was cancelled. Now, a fresh move has been made to give the bauxite mines to the Vedanta Group by an indirect means."

The Opposition leader further said that based on an old application, efforts were being made to give the two mines to the L&T - which is illegal.

"The chief minister's backing is there for the recommendation in favour of the company. It needs a probe as to why such a recommendation was made in favour of the L&T, which had failed to carry out its earlier commitment. Under the new Mines And Mineral Development Regulation Act, the state government cannot make the recommendation," he said.

Sources said the Vedanta Group, which was fighting hard to save its alumina plant at Niyamgiri, plans to procure mines from the L&T Group.

"The entire conspiracy can be exposed if the high court or the Supreme Court constitute a special investigation group to order a probe," he said.

Steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick said: "Taking the opinion of legal luminaries, we have recommended the mines for the L&T keeping the state's greater interest in mind."