Odisha unhappy with some provisions in mines ordinance

Unhappy over some provisions in the Centre's mines ordinance, Odisha government today said it will voice its reservations at a meeting of mines ministers at New Delhi on January 19.
"We will present our views in the meeting and see that the state's interest is not affected while implementing the ordinance," Odisha's Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick told reporters here.
He said the Centre had convened a meeting of the mines ministers of states on how to implement its decision on the new enactment passed through an ordinance.
Claiming that the state was likely to suffer loss due to some provisions of the ordinance, Mallick said the central enactment prevents the state from auctioning 18 iron ore and manganese mines seeking second and subsequent renewal.

"We had decided to auction 18 mines. But, that will not be possible as the central ordinance extended the lease tenure of both the captive and non-captive mines," he said.
Citing another instance, Mallick said the state cabinet had earlier decided not to put the mines already recommended by it for the prospecting license, as in case of Posco steel project, under the auction.
However, the central act cancelled such provisions and put all new mines to be leased out through auction route, he said pointing out that the ordinance grants longer tenures over mines, increasing the period from 30 years to 50 years and also removes the concept of renewal of leases.

Asked what steps the state would take in case the Centre ignored its views, Mallick said "We have sought opinion from our Law department. If they suggest us to move the court against the ordinance, we would do accordingly.