The Justice M B Shah Commission, investigation alleged illegal mining in Odisha,today set up a committee for physical verification of the boundaries of mines.
The committee will comprise seven members including a representative from the commission,” Justice Shah told
reporters on the third day of the hearing here.
TThe committee would have members from the state government, IBM and a representative of the lessee whose area
was to be verified.
Earlier several lessees had objected to the differential geographical positioning system (DGPS) for
boundary demarcation alleging that the state government was using Google maps for surveys which they claimed were
inaccurate.
Justice Shah has allowed physical verification by 24 mining companies.
Meanwhile, Justice Shah’s statement indicating existence of illegal mining in the state, has sent ripples in
the Odisha administration with senior officers holding a close door meeting last night.
The commission has detected that the state government allowed mining companies to go ahead without
clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest.
—————– PTI