By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : The vigilance department of the Orissa government, which is investigating a multi-crore mining scam in state’s mineral rich Keonjhar district, Sunday said it has found evidences of similar scam in another district.
“Seven teams of the department inspected some mined area in Mayurbhanj district and found evidences of illegal mining,” state vigilance chief Anup Kumar Patnaik told IANS.
A person who was given lease to mine a particular area appears to be involved in pilferage of ore from a nearby mine, Patnaik said adding that investigation was carried out during the past three days.
“It may take some more time. We hope to get a complete picture of the crime in next 10-15 days,” he said.
In July, the vigilance department was asked by the state government to investigate illegal mining of manganese ore after opposition parties alleged that it was going on in an area of over 36 hectares in the mineral rich Keonjhar district.
The vigilance department last month arrested eight people, among them mining and forest department officials and a mine owner, for their involvement in illegal mining.
Mayurbhanj is Keonjhar’s neighbouring district. Patnaik said some more areas in both districts are likely to be inspected.