Indicting the Odisha government for indulging in serious procedural irregularities and rampant violation of norms in the allotment of mines, the M B Shah commission has recommended a CBI probe into the multi-thousand crore scam.

The steel and mines department of Odisha, which is in possession of the commission’s report for the last one month, has engaged a consultant to study the findings even as the central government awaits its reply on the matter. Meanwhile, some of the affected parties are using their best to wriggle out of the trap taking advantage of the time lag.

The Shah commission report, available in three volumes, is reported to have looked at two critical aspects— procedural violations and complicity of officials of various administrative departments.

In its findings, which relied heavily on the reports submitted by the state government, vigilance and other state agencies, the panel has strongly endorsed a CBI probe to unravel the entire scam.

While pointing out irregularities in the allotment of mines and renewal of licences, the commission has reportedly, castigated successive governments for abusing the deemed renewal norms over a long period of time. It has also found numerous procedural irregularities since 1960s to which the state government has turned a blind eye.

The commission’s report has reportedly pinned down at least 16 mine owners operating out of Koida, Joda and Barbil in Keonjhar district for violations and over exploitation by blatantly flouting the mining and environmental norms.

Some of the major violators include Seerazuddin, Sarada, AMTC, Patnaik Minerals, Indrani Patnaik Mines, Essel Mining, Mesco and S N Das Mohapatra. The iron ore mine owners and operators, who have escaped the scrutiny of the Shah commission, are working overtime to discreetly highlight the findings of the panel so that they stand to gain.

The Shah commission has accused the officials of the state mining department and Indian bureau of mines (IBM) of criminal conspiracy to show undue favour to mine owners. It has also pointed out the role of the income tax department officials for not reporting proper assessment of the earnings of the mining companies and the mine owners that eventually helped cover their tracks.

While the government was found to have flouted norms under the Forest Conservation Act and Environment Protection Act and allow the mineral loot, the inquiry panel has reportedly recommended strong action against erring officials of steel and mines as well as forest and environment departments for their complicity.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and former pradesh Congress committee president Niranjan Patnaik stated that the Naveen Patnaik government should hand over the probe to the CBI without any delay because the judicial commission is not a substitute to investigate it.

He said the government must implement the recommendations of the commission and write to the centre to notify a CBI probe.