The Government of India appointed Shah Commission led by former Supreme Court judge Justice M. B. Shah on Thursday formally began investigation into illegal mining in Odisha.
The Commission held a discussion with the district authorities of Keonjhar and Sundergarh besides authorities of the railways, Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and forest officials.
"We have supplied documents and replied to the queries made by the commission during the meeting," Keonjhar district magistrate D. V. Swamy told reporters.
Collectors, superintendents of police, divisional forest officers, regional manager of the pollution control board and vigilance officer of the south-eastern railways attended the meeting.
The commission members are scheduled to visit certain mines in Joda areas of Keonjhar district and Koida area in Sundergarh district, an official said. The commission was unlikely to hold public hearing due to shortage of time.
"One requires sufficient time in order to hold public hearings. As the commission did not inform the district administration about its visit, publicity could not be made for a public hearing. "Therefore, the commission members will only hear views of stake holders and receive memoranda from the people," said a district official.
"We have complied with all the queries made by the commission in the past and will provide all support to it," steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said.