Justice MB Shah Commission of enquiry has summoned the officials of the Jindal Steel and Power (JSPL) and Sarada mines in relation to violation of a clause in the Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960.

The company officials may appear before the panel on November 8. After visiting the Tensa iron ore mines belonging to JSPL in Koira circle during its recent field trip, the commission summoned the company officials.

The lessee holds lease of the Thakurani iron ore mines spread over 947.04 hectare in Keonjhar district and sells its entire run of mine (ROM) produce to JSPL without any agreement. The commission during their visit was apprised of the JSPL’s supply arrangements with Sarada mines.

The arrangement contributed to lower value added tax (VAT) collection by the Odisha government on account of low pricing of ROM in comparison to the value derived by JSPL from the product vis-a-vis the market price.

According to an enquiry report of a five-member committee of steel & mines department headed by PC Patra, deputy director of mines (Bhubaneswar), the major benefit of the mine has gone to JSPL.

During mining lease record verification process on November 1, the commission members had found some mismatch between JSPL’s actual raising area at Tensa in Koira circle details and map shown on Google Earth.