BHUBANESWAR: The State Government on Monday rejected persistent Opposition demand for a CBI probe into the multi-crore mining scam asserting that the Vigilance is doing a good job.
Describing the mining irregularities as the biggest scam of the century, Opposition members contended that the Vigilance probe is an eyewash to protect the ruling party bigwigs. Participating in a debate on the admissibility of an adjournment motion notice, Prasad Harichandan (Cong) charged that the Government did not act even though it was aware of the illegal mining much earlier. Action against some subordinate officials is a ploy to cover up for the higher-ups, he said.
Way back in 2006, the Deputy Director of Mines, Joda had written to the Government about irregularities in the Arjun Ladha Mines. Besides, the Comptroller and Auditor General had also mentioned about large-scale irregularities, he said and alleged that the Government had not initiated any corrective measures.
BJP Legislature Party leader K V Singhdeo alleged that the Vigilance probe has been ordered to divert attention from the real culprits, as is evident from the fact that till now no Director of Ram Bahadur Thakur Limited (RBTL) has been questioned by the agency. But the directors are meeting government officials here.
Singhdeo said Shakti Ranjan Das is the common thread which runs through RBTL and some other companies, which have violated laws for illegal mining. Reading out several savings bank account numbers, Singhdeo wanted to know who is operating these accounts.
Referring to the statement of Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty, who mentioned the mining scams in Jharkhand and Karnataka, Singhdeo said the Karnataka Mines Secretary in 1999 is now the Mines Secretary in Orissa and the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister in 2004 is the Mines Secretary in Jharkhand. All these point to the fact that higher-ups are involved, which the Vigilance will not be able to probe, he said.
While Congress member Santosh Singh Saluja demanded a white paper, Naba Das (Cong) alleged that more than 150 leases have been recommended in the past nine years.
Making a statement, Mohanty asserted that the Government will spare no one involved in the scam. Justifying the Vigilance probe, Mohanty said it has raided 10 mines and investigation is on.