A state government committee constituted to look into pending cases of mines lease renewal has recommended another 8 mines for renewal on priority basis including 5 mines of Tata Steel, 2 mines of SAIL and 1 mine of Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) after fulfilling certain conditions, government officials said today.
The names included 5 mines of Tata Steel (Joda East, Joda West, Bamebari, Khandabandh, Katamati), 2 mines of Steel Authority of India (Barsuan, Bolani) and 1 mines (Kurmitar) of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).
Earlier, the state has recommend 5 mines for renewal namely Kaypee Enterprises, K.N. Ram, MESCO, Tata (Guruda & Monmura).
“The conditions include total diversion of forest land inside lease area, payment of penalty imposed in excess mining and getting prior approval for using tribal land,” said a source in the steel and mines department.
The officials, however, denied to comment on the time period for expediting the process. “We cannot comment on the time period. But the cases will be cleared within time period stipulated by the Supreme Court or before that,” said J K Mohapatra, chief secretary of state government.
The Supreme Court, while ordering suspension of mining activities in 26 mines of the state running under deemed extension, had said the state government must take steps to expedite the pending cases within 6 months from 16 May, 2014. These mines were seeking second and subsequent renewals and were working under automatic lease renewal clause. The court maintains that automatic renewal of leases after first renewal is illegal.
In Oct’12, the state government had formed a 12-member committee to expedite the process of mines lease renewal. The committee was formed after an executive order issued by the state government said henceforth; mines meant only for mineral development would be applicable for renewal of lease.
List of Mines referred for Renewal on Priority Basis by Odisha Government
|
Mines |
Category |
EST Production (MnT pa) in FY14 |
|
Tata- Joda East |
Iron ore |
8.2 |
|
Tata- Joda West |
Iron ore |
– |
|
Tata- Bamberi |
Iron ore |
– |
|
Tata- Khandbandh |
Iron ore |
0.7 |
|
Tata- Katamati |
Iron ore |
0.2 |
|
Tata- Guruda |
Mn ore |
0.09 |
|
Tata-Manmora |
Mn ore |
– |
|
SAIL- Bolani |
Iron ore |
3.6 |
|
SAIL- Barsua |
Iron ore |
2.0 |
|
Kaypee Ent- Thakurani |
Iron ore |
– |
|
MESCO- Roida |
Iron ore |
2.0 |
|
K.N. Ram- Roida |
Iron ore |
1.8 |
|
OMC- Kurmitar |
Iron ore |
1.2 |
Source: Ministry of Mines, Odisha Government
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