Rs 1700 cr mineral transport scam in ECoRly alleged

OST Bureau
Puri, Jan 30:

There has been a massive scam worth about Rs 1700 crores in mineral transport in East Coast Railway, it was alleged by speakers at the biennial session of the National Audit Federation at Puri Youth Hostel on Wednesday.

The bulk of the illegal transport of minerals – primarily iron ore and coal – had taken place through the Haldia port in neighbouring state of West Bengal between 2008 and 2013, speakers at the session said adding the ‘scam’ had been unearthed by the office of the divisional accountant general (DAG), Puri.

These minerals have been exported to foreign countries in connivance with some political leaders, railway officials and government officials of Odisha and West Bengal, they alleged.

According to the report, the illegal transportation of minerals through the railways has been done through fake mining licenses and transit passes while the export has been done through fake documents.

East Coast Railway authorities, however, rubbished the allegation of a ‘scam’.

“We have already replied to every point raised in the audit report which was submitted three months ago and are confident our response would answer all the questions raised adequately,” a senior ECoR official told OST.