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The committee had recently visited the state to take stock of mitigation measures taken to prevent environmental degradation arising out of mining activities.
The panel has sought to know the reasons for stoppage of mines, time-frame for reopening of mines and programme chalked out, if any, to enable the mines to obtain the statutory clearances.
Of 600 mining leases in the state, only 130 are working presently. Operations of 139 mines have been discontinued while those of 241 others have been suspended for want of necessary clearances or statutory violations.
So far, the state mining department has determined 41 leases that includes 15 under Bolangir circle, eight in Sambalpur circle, six in Rourkela circle, three in Keonjhar circle, two each in Phulbani, Koira and Bhawanipatna circles and one each in Baripada, Cuttack and Joda circles.
As many as 329 mining lease applications are pending for renewal. Tata Steel, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Essel Mining & Industries Ltd (EMIL), Mid East Integrated Steel Ltd, Ferro Alloys Corporation (FACOR), Rungta Sons and KJS Ahluwalia are amongst the 53 miners operating their leases under deemed extension.
