The high bid premiums in the recently concluded iron ore auctions which had brought joy to the people and the Government became now a disaster with a loss of around Rs 1,964 crore to the State exchequer.
Some new lessees are now manipulating the grade of iron ore and paying mining levies, applicable removing higher fee grades and paying for low grades, resulting in huge loss to the exchequers. Further, deployment of statutory manpower by new lessees for safety of mine workings and personnel employed therein is far below the minimum requirement under MCR 2016 and MCDR 2017, seriously affecting livelihood of people.
On representations of MASS , the officials of Directorate of Mines recently conducted spot visits of Jajang, Nuagaon, Ganua and Narayanposhi iron ore mines of JSW and Thakurani iron ore mines of Arcelor Mittal India Ltd. As per the Director, Mines letter No 6605/ 23-9-20.
to JDM ,Joda and DDM, Koira, it is revealed that the above mines lessees are deliberately not making the stacks in proper geometrical shape. The stack yards are not within the specified area as per the approved Mining Plan, and the grade of iron ore is not proper and much higher than the application made for transit permit.
Out of 1,901 million tones reserves of iron ore, 1,131million tonnes (59.49%) of ore was acquired by JSW and 179million tonne (9.4%) was acquired by Arcelor Mittal India Limited. These two companies have no steel plants in Odisha.
"These corporates must not be allowed to first bid with high premiums and take away all the iron ore from Odisha to other States and then adopt methods through malpractices," said MASS secretary Subrat Tripathy.