India: Odisha govt may approach SC on Sarda Mines case

Although the Odisha High Court has allowed Sarda Mines Private Ltd (SMPL) to continue production from its Thakurani B block in Odisha, the state government is still weighing options whether to approach the Supreme Court on the issue. Odisha government sources told SteelMint that the court order was received by the government recently and it is examining whether to allow operations or approach higher court. Meanwhile, production and dispatches remain suspended. On 28 May, the Joint Directorate of Mines, Keonjhar had stopped iron ore dispatches from the mine for exceeding the pro rata limit stipulated in the EC granted in 2004.