Chrome Ore Users To File Contempt Plea Against Orissa Govt

The SC in its order on July 23 this year had upheld the validity of the report of the S D Sharma Committee set up by the Centre which suggested a reduction in the leasehold of the Tata Iron and Steel Company (Tisco) in the Sukinda chrome ore belt from 1,261 hectares to 406 hectares and distribution of the divested area among four other claimant user industries in proportion to their capital requirements.

The four industries are Indian Charge Chrome Ltd of Imfa group, Ferro Alloys Corporation (Facor), Ispat Alloys of the Mittals and Jindal Ferro Alloys.

The Supreme Court had set a 30-day deadline for implementation of its order.

 

The State mines department, meanwhile, has demarcated the reduced lease area for Tisco's operation and has taken possession of the balance 855 hectares.

However, it is yet to take any action on the redistribution of divested portion among the four parties even after two-and-half months of the Supreme Court order and despite clear cut instructions from the chief minister's office to honour the apex court judgement.

What has further made the claimant industries suspicious of the government's motives is the recent attempt to seek the opinion of the state advocate general on the possibility of bypassing the SC judgement on lease allotment.

The advocate general in his reply last week, while recognising the claims of the user industries has, however, advised that ``the state in public interest is also required to consider the application of state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) and Industrial Development Corporation of Orissa (Idcol) and recommend grant of lease in their favour too.