New Delhi : The MB Shah Inquiry Commission has estimated the size of illegal iron ore mining in Orissa at Rs 60,000 crore and has said half of the profits from mines in the state should go to the local population.

The commission has, however, let off large mining companies including Tata Steel, Essel Mining (Birla group) and SAIL from any fresh probe. It has not found any evidence of illegal mining by these companies but that of over extraction from their mines.