Shah commission member UV Singh

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 9: Members of the Justice M.B. Shah Commission today turned the spotlight on Triveni Earth Movers Limited, a leading mining company raising ore on behalf a large range of clients in the state.

Led by its managing director, B. Prabhakaran, the company’s team appeared before the commission with documents sought by the panel. Prabhakaran also answered queries during the one-hour in-camera session with the commission members at the state guesthouse.

Emerging from the meeting, Prabhakaran said: “We have not violated any law. We only raise ore, we don’t sell it. The mine owners decide the quantity of the ore raised. Let us wait for the commission’s final report.” The commission already met the officials of Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) and Sarada Mining.

Triveni Earth Movers has been in the news following allegations of violation of mining laws and raising excess ore on behalf of different mine owners. Last year, eight MLAs had sought action against the company, alleging that mafia was forcing mine owners to outsource it the job of excavation.

The spotlight has turned on Triveni Earth Movers in wake of the state government imposing penalty to the tune of Rs 70,000 crore on 60 mine owners for raising excess ore by violating their approved mining plans. The state government has also criticised the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) for failing to monitor the situation in the mining belt which led to cases of illegal extraction of ore, sometimes even outside the approved mining areas. The IBM officials, on the other hand, sought to put the blame on the steel and mines department.

However, the commission members, who also met the chief secretary and other senior official of the government here today to cross-check facts, have so far kept mum on the IBM’s role. But, they have time and again criticised the state government officials for failing to check illegal mining, which continues to flourish mainly in Koida and Joda mining circles. During their recent visit to these two mining circles, the panel had noticed several cases of violations, including excess mining and mining outside the sanctioned lease areas.

The commission had also taken note of allegations of mining within 10km of the Similipal wildlife sanctuary, wondering how the state officials allowed such activities in a place that was supposed to be a no-entry zone. The state officials later sought to put up a meek defence, saying that mining in the area had been stopped.

Following the meeting with chief secretary B.K. Patnaik, the commission’s team leader, U.V. Singh, who is the principal chief conservator of forests, Karnataka, said if required, the team would visit the state again. “We will start preparing our report once we go back. However, if the situation demands, we will come back again,” said Singh.

On his part, Patnaik asserted that the government had extended all co-operation to the commission. “Whatever the commission sought from us we have provided them,” he said.