Fine companies that mined illegally in Odisha: SC panel

Bhubaneswar, Oct 18 (IANS) A Supreme Court appointed committee inquiring into the illegal mining in Odisha, has recommended recovering 70 percent of the notional value of the iron ore and manganese produced by leases in violation of the law.

 

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) made the recommendation in its report submitted to the apex court.

"The CEC recommends that 70 percent of the notional value of the iron ore and manganese produced by the lessees by undertaking mining operations in the forest land in violation of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 may be directed to be recovered from the respective lessees," said the report.

The report said 20 leases, including mines of KJS Ahluwalia, Tata Steel, RP Sao, OMDC, Kalinga Mining Corporation and Essel Mining, have violated the act.

They have carried out mining operations in the forest land in violation of the the act and consequently also in violation of the Supreme Court order.

"Wherever the mineral production is both from the forest land as well as non-forest land then in such cases the notional value of the production from the forest land may be calculated on pro rata basis of the extent of the forest land and non-forest land involved," said the report.

The Shah Commission, which had conducted a thorough inquiry into the illegal mining in the state, had identified 51 iron and manganese mining leases in which mining operations were undertaken in the forest land during different periods in violation of the act.