The State Government has sent notices to 18 mine owners, including Tata Steel and Essel Mining, asking them to reply as to why their lease renewal applications should not be rejected. The Steel and Mines Department has asked the miners to comply with the notices within a month.
Twenty-six mines, including these 18, were shut down by a Supreme Court order in May this year. However, the Government allowed eight mines of Tata steel, Odisha Mining Corporation and SAIl to operate through an express order, stipulating certain conditions including furnishing of environment and forest clearances within three months, which was extended to November 15.
The notices have been issued with reference to Section 26 (1) of the Mineral Concession Rules (Refusal of lease Renewal). The State Government will have to submit a report to the Supreme Court about the fate of the mines by November 15.The apex court in its May 16 order had directed the Government to expedite the 26 pending applications within six months and asked them to halt mining operations at these mines running under deemed extension.
Operations of the mines of Tata steel and SAIl were allowed through express order because these are the captive mines. For the other 18 mines, most of them are merchant mines, for which the Government is considering renewal of these leases and it would take time, said official sources.The Supreme Court had asked the Government either to issue express order allowing these mines to run under special provisions or refuse their applications with valid reasons.