KalingaTV News Network
Bhubaneswar: Little perturbed over the Supreme Court order of August 2 in which it imposed 100 per cent compensation on the mining companies involved in illegal iron and manganese ore lifting in the state and set a deadline of December 31 for it, the defaulter companies have so far deposited only half of the ‘mining compensation’.
Rs 8041 Cr has been deposited so far by various mine owners (lessees) in the state.The situation is so despite the fact that the miners failing to deposit the compensation by the deadline would will be barred to operate from January 1.
It has come to notice that from among the 46 iron ore and manganese mines owners in the state, including both private and government-owned players, only a few have deposited the compensatory amount so far. The collected ‘mining compensation’ so far has been contributed by Odisha Mining Corporation (Rs 2,178 crore), Tata Steel (Rs 614 crore) and Rungta Group (Rs 1,800 crore).
Whereas some major players like Mesco Steel, Serajudin, KJS Ahluwalia and Orissa Minerals Development Corporation have not made any deposits until the time.
The apex court while disposing of a writ petition filed by Common Cause in a case of rampant illegal mining in Odisha on August 2 ruled for the recovery of 100 per cent compensation in lieu of the excess ore lifted. The court considered 2000-01 as the base year for the purpose while giving the verdict.
However, in a big respite to the besieged miners, the apex court ruled out a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the unlawful mining at that time.
Notably, Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick yesterday said that the Odisha Government will submit a report on ‘mining compensation’ to Supreme Court on January 1, 2018.
The Supreme Court has fixed January 17 as the next hearing date of the case.
Ms Kalinga