Odisha starts iron ore data reconciliation work

The director of mines, Odisha, today started scrutinisation of mining output data at the headquarters of geology department, for compilation of complete report on status of illegal mining which will be sent to the central empowered committee (CEC), appointed by the Supreme Court of India.

During a hearing conducted by CEC last week at New Delhi, several miners had alleged that mining data submitted by the state government was different from the data filed by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) and hence, could affect CEC’s final report on excess mining. The CEC then directed the state government to rectify the errors. “Based on miners’ plea about data discrepancies, we had called them today to come up with their returns filed with IBM and to match them with records of state mines department. We are in the process of rectifying the errors and will send the data to CEC, who will then submit final report on Odisha to the SC,” said Deepak Mohanty, director of mines with the state government.

As many as 70 leaseholders attended the meeting called by the mines directorate and presented mining output data submitted to IBM starting from 2000-2001. In total, there are 187 iron ore leases in the state, owned by several mining companies.

“The errors were mainly typographic and after we showed them actual figures, the state government corrected them. The miners, who do not have any records for the production figure for some mines, have been asked to come up with documents later,” said a miner present during the meeting today.

After reconciliation of the data, the state steel and mines department is expected to send its report on mining output to CEC next week. Sources said, the probe panel will then submit its final report on status of illegal mining to the SC in last week of this month.

In April this year, the CEC was instructed by the Supreme Court to submit details of the status of illegal mining in Odisha while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL). In its petition, civil society organisation Common Cause had appealed the top court to ban mining in Odisha after leaked reports of Shah Commission of enquiry suggested all modes of illegal mining taking place in the state between 2003 and 2009.