The JSW Steel Limited has recently written to the State Steel and Mines Department countering the allegation made by Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on September 12 that the company is reducing the grade of iron ore of Jajang and Gonua Mines illegally to make profit.
The JSW observed that the allegation is baseless as it has been operating as per the mining plan approved by the IBM and the State-level enforcement squad has made field visits and tested the quality of ores. It further said the JSW was given lease in June 2020 for 50 years as per the MMDR Act and the previous lessee was operating for six decades exhausting the high-quality-grade minerals. Due to previous mining and blasting, low-grade ores are available at present. Besides, the medium and high-grade ores stored in mining areas located in forests cannot be exploited due to forest area.
The company requested the Government to raise the minerals by the OMC and it shall pay the mining operation cost. While the Chief Minister has been moving to different States and countries to invite industrialists to Odisha, such baseless allegation by the MP shall obviously discourage investors to Odisha, it said.
