The Odisha High Court on Wednesday started fresh hearing on the controversial Thakurani mining lease case after Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) filed an additional affidavit in the court. JSPL had challenged a batch of petitions filed against Sarada Mines whom the Thakurani mines were allotted, over extraction of minerals.
Sarada Mines was not allowed to extract minerals following the expiry of its environment clearance. JSPL took the right to extract minerals from Sarada Mines. However, the government stopped the mining citing lack of environmental clearance. JSPL also could not take the minerals extracted from Thakurani mines following which the former moved to the High Court.
But, the petition was challenged by Jyotiranjan Mohapatra and two others, who filed and intervening petition in the court. The High Court had completed the hearing on 7 Aug, 2014. However, the case was reopened after JSPL on Wednesday filed the affidavit on the basis of the clarifications given by Union Environment and Forest Ministry. Petitioners and the government have sought a two week time to respond in this regard.
Leave a Reply