[Watch] Loss Due To Massive Mining Scam Admitted By Odisha Govt, Says BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi

Bhubaneswear: Alleging a massive scam in auctioned mines in Odisha, senior BJP leader and MP Aparajita Sarangi on Tuesday said the state government has already acknowledged occurrence of large scale irregularities in mining of iron ore, causing loss of thousands of crores of rupees to the exchequer.

Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, Sarangi said that the state government in a letter to the Union Coal and Mines Ministry has admitted that several private leaseholders showed high-grade iron ore as low-grade after extraction.

Quoting a letter she received from Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi, the Bhubaneswar MP said the state government has informed the Centre about formation of a committee headed by the director of mines to probe the irregularities.

Claiming that huge volume of high grade iron ore had been shown as low-grade by private miners, Sarangi said it caused huge loss to the state exchequer.

As a result, the amount of money for the district mineral foundation (DMF) funds had been reduced substantially,  she said, adding that funds to the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) have also decreased.

Thogh the state government has informed the Centre about the committee probing the irregularities, it has not specified about preventive measures taken by it to improve the situation. There is also no mention whether any recommendations have been made by the committee, she said

Steps taken by the state government to stop such irregularities must be placed in the public domain as the 4.5 crore people of the state need know the reality, the BJP leader said.

Sarangi also asked the state government to disclose as to who are being benefitted by the corruption and whether it will give a  guarantee that such irregularities will not take place in the future.

The lawmaker further stated that the state government will be responsible if irregularities lead to public protest in mineral bearing areas. The state government should also specify the magnitude of revenue loss due to reporting of high-grade iron ore as low-grade, she added.