Opp demands CBI probe into alleged mine scam

Opposition members in the the Orissa assembly on Friday stormed the well demanding a CBI probe into an alleged Rs 4000 crore a mining scam, but the government said the allegations were incorrect.

Opposition members in the the Orissa assembly on Friday stormed the well demanding a CBI probe into an alleged Rs 4000 crore a mining scam, but the government said the allegations were incorrect.

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BJP legislature party leader K V Singhdeo raised the issue through an adjournment motion seeking a probe into the alleged fraud, reports of which were published in the media.

Singhdeo alleged that the state government was set to give mining permission to a company which was blacklisted by the Centre in 1999.

"A case is pending in a court at Patna in Bihar," Singhdeo said seeking permission from the chair for allowing
him to lay documents in support of his claim.

Singhdeo was not given permission to lay papers and the speaker asked Steel and Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty to give a statement in the house.

Terming the allegations as false and politically motivated, Mohanty said the government was yet to give mining
permission to the company for exploring manganese in Keonjhar district.

"As the forest land diversion proposal of over 96.568 hectare is yet to be cleared, the government cannot give
permission," Mohanty said claiming that there was no truth behind the allegation that illegal mining was being carried out in the area.