25 mining companies in Sihora to come under committee lens

Tue, Nov 3, 2011 | TNN

BHOPAL: A committee has been formed to look into all aspects of mining activities of some two dozen mining firms at Sihora tehsil in Jabalpur district, signalling somewhat of a progress into the issue. The Congress and the ruling BJP traded charges with one laying the blame for the alleged mining scam at the doorstep of the other.

"The inquiry is for carrying out physical verification of the area of excavations for mining, transportation and storage of minerals and violation of lease terms and environmental norms. Nearly, 25 mining companies operating in Sihora tehsil, are coming under the ambit of the probe," Sub-divisional Magistrate Amit Tomar told the TOI.

The inquiry committee, headed by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Akshay Singh, comprises sub-divisional magistrate, deputy director (mining) and sub-divisional officer (forest). The probe panel will also look into the complaints of respective village panchayats about siphoning off mineral wealth through illegal mining. There were also complaints that a few firms had indulged in illegal mining activities outside the mining lease area.

Apart from the complaints regarding mining activities, Tomar said, the administration would also look into alleged irregularities in transportation of minerals without pit passes and storage. The mining firms are supposed to store minerals within the lease area in keeping with the provisions of law. However, many of them prefer to ignore it and dump materials at other places. Rich in minerals like iron ore, manganese and bauxite, Sihora tehsil and neighbouring Katni district have become the hub of state's mining activities with a number of mining firms springing up in the area since mid 1990s.

Among them were mining firms owned by the leaders of the Congress, the ruling party at that time. However, after the BJP came to power in December 2003, some of its leaders, too, developed strong business interests both in mining and its transportation in the area.

Spotlight turned on mining activities in Sihora tehsil this month after state Congress spokesman Manak Agrawal moved a local court in Bhopal, demanding registration of criminal cases against chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BJP national general secretary Narendra Singh Tomar and 23 others.

However, a day before Agrawal filed the complaint in the court, a former BJP legislator had sent a complaint to the chief minister and others alleging large scale 'irregularities' by mining firms owned by a sitting Congress legislator from the same region. (sourced TOI)