Former Union Minister Srikant Jena on Tuesday demanded that mining leaseholders who have already been fined for stealing minerals be kept out of mining auctions and mining leases, mining, transportation and exports activities be given to Odia entrepreneurs.
Addressing a Press meet, Jena suggested to the State Government not to put mines on auction rather keep them under their control so that the mining revenue would be increased by 10 times. But if the Government is committed to auction out mines, then the leaseholders who have been fined for stealing mines (those gave five of Rs 18,000 crore together) should not be allowed to participate in acutions.
The mines, identified for auctions, should be limited to the concerned villagers/self-help groups (SHGs), cooperatives/companies being run by unemployed youths. Similarly, mining and transport and export of minerals of the mines run by Government and private organisations should be given to Odia entrepreneurs, he demanded.
On the occasion he gave a slogan which is meant as “Resources are ours, but others own them.
We are poor, but you will become crorepatis. This is not tolerable at all.”