In a major relief to the Odisha miners Supreme Court yesterday (04 Apr’16) asked state govt. to consider resumption of 102 mining leases. A bench comprising justices asked state govt. to consider renewing applications of miners filed before Jan’15 or at least 12 months prior to expiry of the lease.
The Apex Court citing provisions of the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation, Amendment Act, 2015 to consider allowing 102 mining leases whose operations had been temporarily suspended following Apex Court order of 16 May’14.
On 16 May’14, the Apex Court suspended operations of these 102 mining leases on not having requisite environmental clearances.
An Odisha based merchant in anonymity shared that-”Our leases have been renewed, payments have been deposited and clearances has also been obtained. And we only need permission to resume mining operations. Supreme Court’s decision is in favour of the miners. However it lacks direction. We expect mines to resume operations within span of around 1.5-2 months”.
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