Odisha extends leases of 26 mines

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, April 18: Even though the Naveen Patnaik Government had so far not been able to collect any money as fine from any of the mining companies that were involved in the mining scam, it extended the lease period of as many as 26 mines today.The lease period of 26 iron ore, manganese, limestone and dolomite mines were extended as per the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, said State Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick.The leases were extended as per the recommendations of an inter-departmental committee of the State Government which met a few days ago.Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had given his approval to the committee’s recommendations yesterday.The Government asked the leaseholders of the 26 mines to execute supplementary lease deeds within three months in order to operate these mines as per the existing rules.Of the 26 mines the leases of which were extended eight were captive mines and 18 were non-captive mines.It may be recalled that the Odisha Government had levied fine to the tune of Rs.57,904 crore in the past on 27 mining firms for mining in excess of the quantity permitted under various statutory clearances during 2001-10.The State government had initiated action against some companies involved in the mining scam, but no big mining company owner was arrested till date.Justice M.B.Shah Commission of Inquiry, which probed into the mining scam in Odisha, had recommended CBI probe into the scam.But no CBI inquiry has been ordered into the scam till date.Several public interest petitions were also filed in the Orissa High Court several years ago.Though arguments were heard and orders were reserved, the court High Court has not passed any order on those petitions so far.