Mining body urges govt to restart mines having all clearances

With the operations of nearly 80 per cent of its member lessees suspended due to statutory violations and iron ore output slumping by 50 per cent, the Eastern Zone Mining Association (EZMA) has urged the Orissa government to allow lessees with all clearances to resume operations.

"The operations of 60-65 lessees that are members of EZMA have been suspended. Iron ore produce from our miners has also halved to 15 million tonnes from 30 million tonnes. We have requested the state government to allow lessees having all clearances under Forest Act, State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to resume mining operations immediately”, Prabodh Mohanty, joint secretary, EZMA briefed the media after meeting the state Chief Secretary B K Patnaik.

Mohanty said 80 per cent of the mines represented by EZMA have been suspended on account of want of necessary clearances and consequently people have been thrown out of employment.

EZMA in its memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary said operations of most of the iron ore mines in Joda and Koira sector have been suspended and show cause notices have been issued to all mines, imposing recovery of sale price of iron ore and manganese ore at present IBM rate.