Odisha miners pledge Rs 100-cr CSR fund

Supreme Court advocate Gopal Subramanium put this proposal before Shah Commission on behalf of the miners

Six miners today announced creation of Rs 100 crore-plus corpus for peripheral development at mining areas in Odisha’s Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts in a submission before the Shah Commission, the agency engaged for inquiry into illegal mining activities.

These miners included KJS Ahluwalia, R P Sao, D R Patnaik, Indrani Patnaik, Sirajuddin & Co, and Thriveni Earthmovers.

Supreme Court advocate Gopal Subramanium put this proposal before the Commission on behalf of the miners.

Sources said, more mine owners are likely to join the league by April 13, when the Commission is scheduled to take up hearing on the detail blueprint for overall development of these two backward, yet minerally rich, districts of the state as part their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative.    

As per the preliminary proposal, a trust will be created, with eminent social activists, independent experts, jurists and state government representatives as members, to oversee investment of the fund in various works related to development of communication infrastructure, health and education services and sanitation in the peripheral areas of the mines in these districts.  

The miners have agreed to contribute 5 percent of their profit after tax to the fund annually.

“At the inspiration of Justice Shah, various lessees have come together and put together a corpus of Rs 100 crore and they are going to take forward the movement by which the society will be immensely benefited. I hope this model will be replicated in future,” said Subramanium after the hearing.

“The blueprint for Keonjhar and Sundergarh include development of the entire area. The lessees have voluntarily agreed to do something for the betterment of society. They would see that proper midday meals are served in the schools, better hospital facility is provided in the area,” said Justice Shah.

“This is something unique and should be appreciated if the plan comes true,” he added.

The Commission today heard pleas of seven miners accused of violation of forest and environment acts, encroachment beyond the lease area and excess mining etc. It also heard the response of Sirajuddin & Co on allegation of violation of Rule-37 of Mineral Concession Rule, 1960. It is scheduled to hear the submission of R P Sao, Sarada mines, B C Dagara, Orissa Manganese and Minerals Ltd on Thursday, the final day of hearing.