CEC panel asks Odisha govt to submit detailed data soon

The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee today asked the Odisha government to provide information on mining by lessees accused of violating rules.
"The CEC members wanted certain clarifications and the state government officials have given all the details. The information sought by the panel members will be provided by the respective offices of state government within the time period demanded by them," Odisha Chief Secretary J K Mohapatra said after meeting the four-member CEC team.
The team led by P V Jayakrishna, during its four-day tour inspected 11 iron ore and manganese mines in Joda and Koira mining circle of Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts.

The CEC team found certain discrepancies in data showed by mines leaseholders and state government on lease boundary and mineral extraction. Some of the lease holders also did not have any knowledge of official proceedings against them for forest and environment rule violations, official sources said.
They said that the CEC members sought more information from the state government before their meeting with violating leaseholders in New Delhi on July 23 and 24.
"Though we have provided information to the the CEC team, they now want some statistical data. We will submit it by July 21," Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty said.

Meanwhile, the state government convened a meeting of mine lease holders on July 18 to discuss the difference in data.
The CEC panel was likely to submit its final report to the apex court by the end of this month or early next month.