Odisha to take call on fate of 18 suspended mines today

The state government on Thursday will take a call on the fate of 18 iron ore and manganese mines which are off operation since the May 16 order of the Supreme Court.

These mines awaiting second and subsequent renewal are under temporary closure and are awaiting express orders of the state government to restart operations.

"The cases of all the 18 mines will be presented before the high level committee chaired by the development commissioner. It is up to the committee to decide on their cases. Once express orders are issued by the state government, it will be the responsibility of the miners to obtain all the necessary statutory clearances within three months," said a senior official at steel & mines department.

The 18 mines in question include the ones held by Tata Steel, K J S Ahluwalia, K N Ram, Kalinga Mining Corporation, Kaypee Enterprises, Mideast Integrated Steel, Aryan Mining & Trading Corporation Ltd, Bonai Industrial Company Ltd, B I Company Ltd, Feegrade & Company Ltd, OMM Pvt Ltd, state run Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Rungta Mines Ltd.

In its May 16 interim order, the Supreme Court had called for suspending operations of 26 iron ore and manganese mines awaiting second and subsequent renewal that were operating under the provisions of deemed lease extension. The court order had snapped supplies of high grade iron ore to the tune of 40 million tonne, leaving steel makers in the lurch.

"As an interim measure, these 26 leases operating as second and subsequent renewals without any express orders of renewal passed by the state government will not be allowed to operate by the state government until express orders are passed in terms of Section 8 (3) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and we also direct that all renewal applications under Section 8 (3) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 will be considered and disposed of by the state", the apex court order stated.

The top court called for completion of the entire process of consideration and disposal of renewal applications within six months of its interim order. The SC had directed the state government to treat on priority the applications of leases that were granted for captive mining for providing iron or manganese ore as raw material for industries. In compliance with the apex court order, the state government, in June has passed orders in respect of eight mines- four held by Tata Steel - Bamebari, Katamati, Joda East and Joda West, three mines- Bolani, Barsuan and Kalta held by Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) and the Kurmitar Pahar lease of OMC. Meanwhile, these eight lessees are yet to furnish compliance on the status of environment and forest clearances.

"The key hurdle is obtaining full diversion of forest land for mining. Since passing of express orders, we have already issued two extensions to the miners to obtain the necessary approvals," said the official.