The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), inquiring into illegal mining in Odisha, on Tuesday asked the State Government to provide relevant data on minerals extraction and other details on the mines leaseholders accused of violating rules and regulations for preparation of its final report.
“The members needed certain clarifications, and the officials concerned provided all the details. They have also sought additional information and that will be provided within the time period fixed by them,” said Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra after a meeting with the visiting four-member CEC team.
The team, during its field visit to mining areas in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts over the last two days, had found major discrepancies in data produced by the mine leaseholders and the State Government with regard to the lease area boundaries and volume of mineral extractions.
Before the CEC meets mine leaseholders in New Delhi next week, the State Steel and Mines Department has asked the miners to report on their cases on July 18 to discuss issues of data and record mismatch, if any.The CEC was instructed by the Supreme Court in April this year to submit details of the status of illegal mining in Odisha while hearing a public interest litigation (PIl).The CEC is expected to submit its status report to the Supreme Court by the end of this month to help the court take a final view on whether to allow mining in Odisha
or not.