The Allahabad High Court has ordered a CBI inquiry into the allotment of mining leases to private contractors by the state government. Finding prima facie irregularities in granting of mining leases and illegal mining of minor minerals in Uttar Pradesh,the High Court on Tuesday asked the superintendent of police,CBI, Lucknow,to submit a preliminary report in the matter by April 4,a day before the next hearing. The order was passed in response to a petition filed by Sameer Dwividi,a resident of Banda,who alleged that his application for a mining lease had been unfairly rejected. A Division Bench comprising Justices P C Verma and Bala Krishna Narayana said it was not satisfied by the explanation given by the chief secretary in his affidavit. We,therefore,direct the SP,CBI,Lucknow,to hold an inquiry so that facts are brought before us regarding grant of licence by the state government, said the Bench. The chief secretarys affidavit had denied any illegality in the grant of lease and had said that all allotments were made according to the rules. Akhilesh Kalra,counsel for the petitioner,had alleged that the state government,the minister concerned and his men were involved in granting mining leases for minor minerals on a pick and choose basis. The government and the minister were also promoting illegal mining of minor minerals like sand,boulders,morang and silica,the complainant had alleged. Rs 1,200 per truckload is taken illegally from miners by goons of the minister representing the department on behalf of the state government, said Kalra,adding that he had mentioned these facts in the petition. The writ petition alleged irregularities in granting of mining leases and illegal mining in Banda,Fatehpur,Hameerpur,Allahabad,Chandauli and other parts of the state.
