The Supreme Court on Friday ordered closure of 26 iron ore and manganese mines in Odisha, a move which came as a huge blow to the steel industry as it procures a significant quantity of iron ore from the state.
The Forest Bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice AK Patnaik issued a temporary order on a PIl by the NGO Common Cause on finding that the continuation of the 26 out of 56 mining leases in the state was detrimental to the environment and would require all statutory environment and forest clearances from the state to revive operation.
The bench, also comprising Justices SS Nijjar and FM Ibrahim Kalifulla, relied on the report by the advice of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on environment issues that held that the 26 mine leases were renewed throwing law to the wind. The Court found that the 26 leases operated without environmental clearances and clearance under Section 8(3) of Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act. The bench was informed by CEC that a final report based on allegations in the PIl would be prepared by July.