No role of third party for renewal process – HC
Bhubaneswar: In a major blow to Odisha based Ferroalloys producers like Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL), IMFA and Navbharat Ventures, the Odisha High Court on Friday rejected a batch of petitions challenging the Odisha government’s decision pertaining to renewal of Sukinda Chromie mine lease for Tata Iron & Steel Company Ltd (TISCO) in Sukinda.
Ferroalloys producers had filed several petitions in the HC stating their opinions should be taken into consideration before renewal of TISCO’s mining lease.
A division bench comprising of Justice Indrajit Mohanty and Biswanath Mahapatra said that views of third party are not necessary and directed the state government to proceed with the renewal process as per law. Earlier, the HC reserved the verdict after several rounds of hearings.
TISCO had taken lease of the entire Sukinda Chrome valley with 1,261 hectares from the then king of Sukinda before independence. However, in the 90s the company had to relinquish 855 hectares of Chrome reserves after government order and kept only 406 hectares of mine. The 855 hectares of Chrome area was allocated to Ferrochrome producers like IMFA, FACOR, Ballasore Alloys etc. The 20 years lease period of the 406 hectare Chrome mines for TISCO had expired on 11 Jan, 2013. However, the government has given Deemed Extension and temporary work permit to the mine for 1-year till January, 2014. Meanwhile mining at the mines has been stopped since May this year on the basis of the SC order on deemed renewal.
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