Mining activities to be legitimate economic activity in Odisha

With a large number of mines remaining closed in Odisha due to lack of statutory clearances, both the state and the central governments today resolved to make mining activities here a legitimate economic activity by complying with all such requirements.

This was decided at a high-level meeting presided over by Odisha's Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra and attended by Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Anup Kumar Pujari, and Secretary, Ministry of Steel G Mohan Kumar.

The meeting reviewed the situation arising out of closure of mines due to lack of statutory requirements. Stating that all mining activities were not illegal, Union Mines Secretary A K Pujari said the legalised mining leases which have been stalled due to non-compliance to statutory clearances or some inter-departmental decisions, would be revived through joint efforts of both at the state and the central level.

Pujari pointed out that as on today, Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act-1957 was the governing legislation of the country and all issues relating to lease, auction, prospecting license, renewal and others would be decided as per the provisions of the Act. Sources said there were about 59 operating mines in Odisha including 41 iron and manganese, six coal, one bauxite, five chromite and six limestone mines.

However, about 131 mines were closed down due to different reasons. “It was decided in the meeting to look into all details of these mines on case to case basis and find out the reasons for their closure,” an official said adding decision was taken to expedite operation of the close down mines if they faced procedural delays or stipulated clearances.

While participating at the review meeting here, chairman-cum-managing director of state-owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Saswat Mishra, said, “Since forest and environmental clearances are submitted at the time of stage-1 clearance, these certificates may not be kept as prerequisites for consideration of stage-II clearance.”

The lessees may be asked to comply such conditions before starting mining operation in the leased area, he said. Both the state and central governments authorities took note of the suggestion and assured to resolve the matter soon. Relying a question on raw material linkage to local industries, Chief Secretary Mohapatra said the problem would be largely addressed after resumption of legal mining activities in the state.