After getting a green signal from its Inter-Departmental Committee on mines, the State Government on Saturday ordered reopening of three more closed mines. Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallik said the leaseholders have been asked to make additional lease deeds of the concerned mines. On April 16, the Government had approved the recommendations of the panel headed by Development Commissioner UN Behera for reopening of 26 closed mines under the new Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act. The Supreme Court, in its May 16, 2014 order, had asked the State Government to halt operation in the 26 mines which were waiting for second and subsequent renewals, saying that automatic renewal of mining lease after 20 years of first renewal was illegal.