A day after the State Government announced that as per the Supreme Court’s Central Empowerment Committee (CEC) estimate Rs 17,000 would be collected from the mine owners for illegal mining, the BJP on Wednesday lamasted the State Government accusing it of having struck a deal with the mine owners.
Speaking at a Press meet here, BJP State general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra said even though the Supreme Court had found the mining companies being involved in illegal extraction of huge quantities of minerals and ordered for recovery of 100 per cent penalty, the BJD is trying to tamper with the order.
“The SC, in its judgement, ordered for 100 per cent recovery from the mining companies for the excess ore extracted. The State Government had to recover Rs 59,000 crore but its decision on August 8 to issue notices in 10 days to the firms to collect a penalty of mere Rs 17,000 crore has exposed the honeymoon between the BJD Government, bureaucrats and mining companies,” alleged Baxipatra.
The BJP will move the court against the decision and will take to the streets against the State Government if the apex court’s order is not implemented, he added.
“Our assessment is still on. An assessment of the violation by the mining firms by extracting ore above the permissible limit will be done soon,” said Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick in reaction to the BJP’s charges.
BJD spokesperson Prashant Nanda told reporters that the State Government would implement the court order word by word. Nobody should spread any false information about it.