Jharkhand to seek mining lease details from CBI
By IANSTuesday, January 4, 2011
RANCHI - The Jharkhand government Tuesday said it would seek details from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) about irregularities in allocation of mining leases during the Madhu Koda regime.
“We will write a letter to the CBI seeking details of mining leases recommended and allocated to companies and of any irregularities made during allocation,” Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who also holds charge of mines and geology departments, informed the state assembly.
The minister was answering a question raised by Pradeep Yadav, a Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) legislator, as to whether the government planned to cancel mining leases allocated during Madhu Koda’s short term as there were reports of irregularities and kickbacks.
Rajendra Prasad, leader of opposition and senior Congress legislator, demanded suspension of operations at all mines leased by the Koda government.
There were reports of irregularities and kickbacks made in awarding mining contracts during September 2006-August 2008, when Koda was the chief minister. The CBI has launched a probe into the awarding of the mining leases.
Koda, now in jail for more than an year, is facing graft charges for acquiring disproportionate wealth that runs into several crores of rupees.
CBI is also investigating graft cases against five former ministers.
