The Steel Authority of India limited (SAIl) and the National Aluminium Company (Nalco) on Monday agreed to settle out of court, the issue of their combined outstanding dues of Rs1,156 crore to the Odisha Government towards electricity charges within the next two months.
This was informed by Chief Secretary Jugal Kishor Mohapatra after a review meeting of steel and aluminium projects in the State here.Union Steel Secretary G Mohan Kumar and Mines Secretary Dr AK Pujari, Secretaries of various concerned departments of the State Government and industry representatives attended the meeting, which discussed pending issues relating to various ongoing projects in the State.
Nalco Chairman-cum-Managing Director Ansuman Das said the meeting decided to form a three-member committee for expeditious disposal of the pending issues, including Nalco’s pending water dues amounting to Rs300 crore. The committee would be asked to resolve the issue within two months, he said.It may be noted that the two public-sector companies, SAIl and Nalco, had gone to court against the claim on power charges made by the State Government. While the Nalco challenged the claim of Rs1,095 crore by way of power charges in the Supreme Court, the SAIl’s Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) contested the Rs61.25-crore power bill slapped on it in the Odisha High Court.
The Chief Secretary said the proposed committee would also take up other pending issues like environment and forest clearances for mining projects so as to ensure that steel projects in the State do not suffer due to lack of iron ore linkage.
Union Mines Secretary Pujari said all mining issues relating to lease out, auction, prospecting licence and renewal should be decided as per the provisions of the Mines & Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Act-1957. Since the mining sector has its impact on economy of the State and the country, all necessary steps would be taken as per law to start operation in the closed mines, he said.On the present status of mining activities in the State, Pujari said all mining activities are not illegal. The mining leases which have been stalled due to non-compliance with statutory clearances or for some other reasons should be revived through joint efforts both at the State and national levels.
Official sources said that while 131 mines are closed down for various reasons, 59 mines including 41 iron and manganese mines, six coalmines, one bauxite mine, five chromite mines and six limestone mines are operating in the State.
The meeting decided to look into the details of these mines on case-to-case basis and find out the reasons for their closure. It was also decided to take expeditious steps to revive the closed mines if they are closed for procedural reasons or stipulated clearances. Both the State and Central Government authorities took note of the suggestion and assured to resolve the matter soon.
Replying to a question regarding raw material linkage to industries, the Chief Secretary said the problem would be addressed after resumption of legal mining activities in theState.