Several mining firms in Odisha received notices from the state government seeking penalty for
mining “without statutory clearances” over the past decade.
In all, the state mines department is said to have sent 27 notices. Among others, the companies that received the notices include Aditya Birla Group’s Essel Mining, Sarda Mines, Tata Steel, Indrani Patnaik Mines.
According to one report, the state government may get up to Rs 24,000 crore in revenue claims as a result of this move. The state accounts for a third of the country’s iron ore, a key input to make steel.
Like Goa and Karnataka, it has been overwhelmed by mining controversies and awaits its independent verdict from a central investigation committee currently in the state.
Companies like Tatas (Joda west), Essel and KJS Ahluwalia received notices for excess mining done between 2001 and 2010. This, despite the mines ministry warning Odisha in September that it must not confuse excess mining with illegal mining.
It is learnt that Tata Steel’s mine alone owes the state government more than Rs 3,780 crore while a mine owned by the Birlas’ Essel Mining owes Rs 3,387 crore.
Production at mines is controlled by a mining plan approved by the centre’s Indian Bureau of Mines, a pollution control limit and a cap that come with an environmental and forest clearance.
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