As many as 17
mining leases granted to several public sector undertakings have been closed due
to non-availability of statutory clearances. These PSUs includes SAIL, OMDC and
NALCO, according to information provided by the Odisha Government.
In a letter to
Assistant Controller of Mines of the office of the Regional Controller of mines
S.Jena, undersecretary to government of Odisha has stated that the 17 mining leases given to Steel Authority of
India (SAIL), Odisha Mineral Development Corporation (OMDC), National Aluminium
Company (NALCO), Kolkata based Bharat Process and Mechanical Engineers limited (BPMEL)
and Birmitrapur(Odisha) based Bisra Stone Lime co. have been closed down due to
non availability of several clearances including forest and environmental
clearance. Most of these 17 iron ore, manganese, Bauxite and Limestone &
Dolomite mines are situated in Keonjhar and Sundargarh district.
State owned
steel behemoth SAIL is leading the list with maximum 7 mining leases under
suspension, followed by 4 of OMDC ,3 of BPMEL and 2 of NALCO and 1 of BSL co
ltd. Mining Lease of SAIL’s Bolani, Tantra, Toda,Baruan –Kalta iron ore blocks have
been suspended. Similarly, mining lease of OMDC’s Belkundi, Bhadrasahi, Bagaibaru-M,
Kolha-Roida blocks have been suspended. Nalco’s lease of Panchpattmali north
and south Bauxite blocks has been suspended.
Edited by: Tapan
Moharana
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