The Odisha government has issued instructions to the Directorate of Mines to suspend transit permit for dispatch of all merchant sales of iron ore dumps and tailings by state-owned steel producer SAIL. It also forbids dispatch of all grades of iron ore from the company’s captive mines. Ore dispatches for captive consumption, however, can continue unabated. Deviation in SAIL’s mining operations for dumps allowed under the approved mining scheme is cited as a major reason. Also, clarity is awaited with regard to sales of iron ore equivalent to 25% of the company’s annual production as allowed under MMDR Amendment Act, 2021.
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