Bhubaneswar : The Thakurani Iron ore mines of the Sarda Mines under the Joda Mining Circle has been served to close down mining operations following expiry of its environmental clearance. The Deputy Director of Mines Joda circle as served the notice recently.
“The closure notice was served as the environmental clearance of the mining company expired on 1 Apr 2014,” said Mining Officer Salil Kumar Behera.
Reacting on the closure notice Arjun Saraswat, Director cum Nominated Owner of the company said that they have environmental clearance as well as the deemed approval for mining. So the act of the state government is illegal.
It may me recalled that a team of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had visited the Thakurani mines for a probe on the allegations of Rule 37 violation of MCR -1960 by the lease holder Sarda mines . The mines lease holder was selling its entire run of mine (ROM) produce to Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) without any written agreement. Also, the Iron sale by the lessee was at unacceptably low rates compared to market prices. The case was referred to the CEC by the apex court in its order dated 16 Sep, 2013.
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