Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court of India is likely to announce its verdict on Odisha illegal mining today. On Saturday, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had submitted its report on the statue of mining in the state and the state government has also submitted its affidavit before the CEC.
Despite Odisha government’s affidavit that there is no illegal mining taken place in the state, it is clear that the CEC’s report will play a vital role in the judgment process.
What is in the CEC report?
According to sources, the CEC in its 12 page report has presented a brief status of mining condition in Odisha. It said that till few years back most of the mining leases of the total 601 mines have been operating without any legal clearances or operating even after expiry of lease period. However, the state government has taken some stringent actions to bring the sector in order. According to the information submitted by the state government, the validity of 157 mining leases (out of total 601) have been expired and as many as 163 mining leases, that were operating without forest clearance, have not been renewed. Mining at 319 mines (including the above 163) have been stopped as they did not have all the statutory permissions.
On the other hand, 64 mining leases that have all the statutory clearances have been renewed. Similarly, 56 leases have been granted deemed extension as they have secured the other statutory permissions. 4 mines situated in non-forest land have been granted lease and another one mine has been operating with court order.
Of the total 601 mines, 187 are Iron ore & Manganese mines. Out of these 187 mines, 102 mines are not in operation for not having environmental and forest clearance and lease period of 29 mines are either expired or application had been rejected for extension.
The report said that only 53 Iron ore & Manganese mines are operating with all the statutory approvals. Out of this, 16 mining leases have been granted lease renewal and 37 mines are operating under deemed renewal. Out of these 37 mines operating under deemed renewal, 13 are operating under first deemed renewal and 26 mines are operating under second and subsequent renewal.
In Odisha, Tata Steel, Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL), Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Essel Mining & Industries Ltd (EMIL), Mid East Integrated Steel, Rungta Sons & KJS Ahluwalia were among the 53 miners operating their leases under ‘deemed extension’.
The state government in its submission before the CEC has stated that Odisha produces almost 50% of the total Iron ore produced in the country and any restriction on it will have severe effect on the countries mineral production. The state government has taken steps to bring the mining industry in order and currently all the operating mines have statutory clearances.
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