Bhubaneswar: Odisha Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick today informed that the state government will auction 16 mines, including 10 iron ore mines by the end of March, 2019.
“We have written a letter to the Centre seeking its permission for the auction of 16 mines. Once we get the approval, we will auction the mines by March, 2019,” said Mallick while speaking to media.
Notably, the state government had cancelled the leases of six mines on December 1 after the leaseholders failed to pay the penalty imposed on them for excess mining.
Mallick informed that 31 mining companies have not paid the penalty as per the order of the Supreme Court while 25 of them have been granted stay order by the Revisional Authority. The lease of rest six mines, which have not got the stay order, have been cancelled due to non-payment of compensation. These mines have been restricted from carrying out mining operations.
“We have written to the Centre accordingly for approval. The auction process is likely to begin by December,” the Minister added.
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Ms Kalinga