Bhubaneswar: The Green Bench of the Supreme Court has granted another 3 months to take a decision about the lease renewal of 26 mines running under second or subsequent renewal. Recently the Odisha government has requested for another 3 months to the apex court. Last May the Supreme Court shut down 26 mines and had directed to take decision on the fate of the mines within 6 months which ends on 15th of this month.
Off the 26 mines the government had allowed 6 captive mines operated by Tata Steel and SAIL and one stand alone mines of OMC to operate through express orders. However, the rest 18 merchant mines are still awaiting permission to start operation.
On the other hand the state steel and mines department on 7th of this month has issued notices to the mines under Section 26 (1) of Mineral Concession Rules (refusal of lease renewal) to show what are the steps they have taken to comply with the CEC order and without which why their leased should not be cancelled. The lessees have been asked to submit responses by 22nd of this month.
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