Storage license of 22 mineral trading firms cancelled

The Steel and Mines department of the Orissa government has taken action against 22 mineral trading and exporting firms during past two years for violation of environment and mining rules, says a letter sent by the state government to Shah Commission, which is probing illegal mining cases all over the country.

The department has cancelled mineral storage licenses in 43 cases of 22 trading firms at various locations, including at railway siding and at ports for non-submission of no-objection certificates from state pollution control board and because of unauthorized storage.

It has also lodged FIR against Aditya Birla group promoted Essel Mining for illegal storage of iron ore at a railway siding and against GNG Exports, for using fake permit to transport iron ore fines.

While most of the 22 firms got export licenses even after cancellation of storage permits, three firms - Essel Mining, Mideast Integrated Steels and Rungta Mining Ltd - in the Keonjhar mining circle were denied permission to export minerals in 2009, according to the data furnished by the state government.

Justice M B Shah led commission had earlier asked the Orissa government to provide information about alleged illegal mining and action taken by the state on this front by September 19. But as the steel and mines department could not meet the deadline, the Commission had extended it to September 30.

The Shah Commission is probing illegal mining case in Goa and Karnataka also.