19 approved mining leases yet to be executed

As many as 19 mining leases approved by the Government of India are yet to be executed in the state mainly due to want of forest clearance and non-submission of Mining Plan.

"The execution order of 19 mining leases approved by the Government of India is pending with the state government for various reasons”, Raghunath Mohanty, the state minister for industries and steel & mines said in response to a query in the state assembly.

The execution order for Mining Lease (ML) approved in favour of Nava Bharat Ferro Alloys Ltd on July 9, 2001 for Kalarangiatta-Kaliapani chromite mines spread over 84.88 acres is pending due to want of forest clearance.

Similarly the ML approved on July 30, 2002 for the iron ore mines of the Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) spread over 552 acres at Jadamdihi in Keonjhar district is yet to be executed also because of want of forest clearance.

The ML approved on November 26, 2008 for Hindalco Industries' bauxite mining lease at Lakharsi in Rayagad district spread over 237.63 acres is yet to be executed owing to non-submission of Mining Plan.

The other companies whose approved MLs are yet to be executed are OCL India Ltd (iron ore), Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (iron ore), Sree Metaliks Ltd (iron ore), Neepaz Metaliks Ltd (iron ore), SMC Power Generation Ltd (iron ore and manganese ore) and Deepak Steel & Power Ltd (iron ore) to name a few.