Bhubaneswar, Sept. 1: Under fire for not being able to check rampant loot of minerals, the Orissa government has constituted a supervisory committee to check illegal sub-lease of mines.

“Many mine owners take mining leases to sub-lease it. Those who take sub-leases of these mines indulge in all sorts of illegal trading of minerals as they do not have any accountability. We hope the new committee will be able to check all sorts of illegal activities,” said an official of the state steel and mines department.

State steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said: “The newly constituted committee, comprising steel and mines department officials and chartered accountants, will verify all facts. The administration will provide all sorts of help to the committee.”

Sources said the chartered accountants would help the committee in verifying the balance sheets of these companies, their audited accounts, tax audit reports, income tax and VAT returns and other documents.

Officials said the committee would look into violation of Rule 37 under the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.

“Sub-leasing illegally to private parties is tantamount to violation of Rule 37. We will ensure that no one gives any sub-lease of mining and trade is transparent. If we detect sub-leasing, the mining lease will be cancelled,” said minister Mohanty.

Earlier, Biju Janata Dal MLA Debasis Nayak had written a letter to chief minister Naveen Patnaik stating that the mining operation was being controlled by “goons under political patronage in mineral-rich Keonjhar district”.

“The goons have almost taken control of the areas and forced companies to hand over lifting of minerals to them,” he had said.