The Orissa High Court on Wednesday directed the State Government to implement its order of April 8 allowing the Jindal Steel & Power ltd (JSPl) to lift iron ore the company has legally purchased from the Sarda Mines Pvt ltd (SMPl) within four weeks.
The court also asked the Government for reasons for the delay in implementing the order.
The High Court had allowed the JSPl to transport iron ore lumps and fines, for which it has already paid the royalty from the dispatch point located within the leasehold area of the SMPl to its pelletisation plant and railway siding.
The court had also quashed the letter of March 31, 2014 issued by the Deputy Director of Mines, Joda directing stoppage of ore transportation. However, after three months, the Government neither withdrew the letter nor had given the permission to the JSPl to lift the raw material.
The JSPl is losing about Rs 300 crore per month in Odisha though the company is the highest buyer of iron ore in the State and gives direct and indirect employment to over 60,000 people.
According to industry experts, such delay in allowing the JSPl to lift its legally-purchased raw material reflects poorly on the State policy.
THe JSPl in its response said, “We have got full confidence on the State Government and judiciary and simultaneously appeal to the Government to save the steel industries and industry-based employment as well as the livelihood in the entire value chain.”