Union minister of state for steel and mines Ramesh Bais last week alleged that corruption could not be ruled out in the allotment of a diamond mine to a Mumbai-based company by the Madhya Pradesh government.The government has appointed MSB Vijaykumar Diamond Consortium to explore diamonds in one of the 11 blocks in Devbhog mines area in Raipur district in the state.
The centre would take all steps under the law to stop such illegal exploration of diamonds by the state government, he said adding that after the refusal by the centre to issue licence to the state government on November 27, 1997 for the exploration of diamonds, it should not have invited tender without the centre's consent.
The union minister accused the state government of not maintaining transparency and evading several questions on the issue.
The state government has no right to take decision to allot mines with the assembly elections only four months away.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
