The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) will arrive in Odisha on a two-day visit on June 9 to conduct an independent observation relating to the mining activities in the State.
The CEC, which had submitted its interim report on mining activities before the apex court, would examine the statutory clearances of various mining leases operating in the State, said Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty.
It would submit a report to the court after the examination.
It is to be noted that the SC had ordered temporary closure of around 26 mainstream mines in the State
on the grounds of non-renewal of leases following that recommendation of the CEC that about 40 mines in the state were operating under the provision of “deemed renewed” leases well after the expiry of their lease periods.
“The recommendation of the CEC was based on information provided by the state government. Now, it will make an independent assessment of the mining activities,” said Mohanty.