Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government may take a decision on the extension of as many as 80 mining leases in April, after the closure of the Budget session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. Currently, there are 80 mining leases whose lease validity is expired. These leases include 18 Iron ore and Manganese mines that were closed in May last year.
Earlier, the state government had constituted a panel headed by Development Commissioner U.N. Behera to examine the renewal cases in light of the new MMDR Ordinance 2015. The Ordinance disallowed lease renewal after expiry of the lease period.
The panel will have Principal Secretary, Steel & Mines, Additional Chief Secretary and Revenue Secretary as members. According to sources, the panel is likely to meet in the beginning of the next month to decide whether to extend or to auction the leases.
List of 18 mines closed under second deemed renewal in Odisha
| Joda mining Circle | Location | Mineral | |
| Tata steel | 3 | Khandaband | Iron ore |
| Guruda | Manganese ore | ||
| Manmore | Manganese ore | ||
| KJS Ahluwalia | 1 | Nuagaon | Iron ore |
| MESCO | 1 | Roida | Iron ore |
| KN Ram | 1 | Roida | Iron ore |
| Kalinga Mining Corp | 1 | Jurudi | Iron ore |
| KP Enterprises | 1 | Thakurani | Iron ore |
| Koida Mining Circle | |||
| AMTC | 2 | Narayanpasi | Iron ore |
| Mahulsukha | Manganese ore | ||
| Bonai Industrial Co | 2 | Nadidihi | Iron ore |
| Teherai | Manganese ore | ||
| Feegrade and co | 1 | Rengalibeda Nadikasira | Iron ore |
| OMM | 3 | Patamunda | Manganese ore |
| Bhanjakusuma | Manganese ore | ||
| Orahuri | Manganese ore | ||
| Rungta Mines | 2 | Kolmong | Manganese ore |
| Kantharkoida | Manganese ore |
Rajya Sabha passes Mines Bill
The Upper House of Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Amendment Bill, 2015, on Friday. A select panel of 19 Rajya Sabha members had approved the bill with two amendments while four had a dissent note on it.
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