Press Release on Coal Scam and CM’s statement to the Assembly.

Press Release on Coal Scam and CM’s statement to the Assembly.
-------- viswa sambad kendra orissa-----

Addressing a Press Conference to-day (Dt.21/7/’10), the Chief Spokesman and State Vice President Ashok Sahu castigated the Chief Minister of being a party to the on going Coal scam under the OSIS by protecting the two Ministers who were at one time Chairman of the Corporation. Shri Sahu alleged that Pratap Jena had personally got one Balaji Coal Traders appointed as Handling Agent who is transporting Coal from MCL to the Coal Depot at Manguli Chhak in Cuttack District by trucks and Tippers owned by ‘ Baba Lingaraj Transport Co.’ whose real owner is Pradip jena himself. He further alleged that Badri Narayan Patra, another Minister now was signatory to a resolution dated 17th February 2009 for setting up Coal Depots owned by private parties even at places where MCL has its own depot. It is in violation of the FSA and also the guidelines set by the Department of Public Enterprises as the expenditure involved exceeded ten lakh rupees. The prior approval of the parent department of Industries should have been obtained by the OSIS before embarking upon changes in the Coal distribution policy as resolved on 17/2/2009. Shri Sahu emphatically stated that there are enough materials to constitute prima facie charges against both the Ministers to investigate into their complicity in the multi Crore Coal Scam. But the CM, by giving clean chit to the delinquent members in the Cabinet has pre-emptied the investigation by the Vigilance Department. He alleged that in face of a clean chit by none other than CM himself, no one in the Vigilance Department would finger at these two delinquents even if they are guilty.
Shri Sahu further alleged that Hemant Sharma, the IAS officer was benefited by being posted as the Director Industries as well as the Managing Director of the OSIS as a reward for the services he rendered as the Collector and Returning Officer in Kendrapada where Naveen Babu’s arch-enemy Bijoy Mohapatra was contesting the elections in 2004. Shri Sharma as Director Industries formulates policies for allotment of MSMES entitled for such subsidized coal and as MD of the OSIS was implementing his own decisions in a different capacity. How he could be above board when corruption is ascertained to have been committed during preliminary enquiry. The CM has admitted in his statement before the Assembly on 17/7/2010 that there has been corruption reported in the OSIS but regarding appointment of private Coal Depot holders the concerned file had not gone to Badri Narayan Patra. But the resolution dated 17/2/2010 is within full knowledge of Patra as per records. Hence, CM’s statement is baseless, illogical and intended to mislead the House. The CM has to drop these two delinquents from his Cabinet and suspend Hemant Sharma and Akhil Jena to facilitate the Vigilance Department for impartial and fearless investigation.