Orissa tightens mining norms

Barely six weeks after the Supreme Court banned iron-ore mining in Karnataka’s Bellary region on environmental grounds, the Orissa government has pulled up its socks to regulate the mineral exploitation business in the state, citing similar concerns.

A state government notification said the environment and population of the area were being affected on account of increased production and transportation of iron ore from the mines, specially in Joda and Koira areas. “It is necessary to develop a master plan for the areas to ensure that the cumulative effect of the extraction from individual mines is within sustainable limits,” it added.

The government has created a committee that will recommend the maximum quantity of iron ore and manganese ore that should be extracted from Joda and Koira areas, the notification said. The 18-member panel will be headed by the state chief secretary. The other members will include the principal secretaries of the departments of forest and environment and commerce and transport, director of mines, director of environment, secretary of state pollution control board, commissioner-cum secretary of steel and mines, secretary of works, special secretary of rail coordination and the state chief engineer for national highway.

The panel will also have the general manager of East Coast and South Eastern railways, chairman of Paradip port and regional controller of Indian Bureau of Mines. Besides the 14 specified members, it may invite two mining lessees and two end-users to attend the meetings.

The government’s stern action follows last week’s mining probe panel report that revealed 104 miners having produced iron ore, manganese ore and limestone in excess of the IBM-stipulated quantity during the last 10 years. The government has also sought Centre’s intervention to punish them.

According to the Mineral Concession & Development Rules, every mining lease-holder has to carry out operations in accordance with the IBM-approved plan.