Business Standard reported that 9 private miners are likely to lose their mining leases in the state following a recent decision of the steel & mines department to cancel all applications for renewal of leases made between 1987 and 1994.

The department had decided to bring such lessees back to the fold of the state government against the backdrop of an ongoing probe into alleged large scale illegal mining activities in the state by the visiting Mr MB Shah commission of enquiry.

The government order said that all applications for renewal filed within the time referred to in sub rule (1) under Mineral Concession Rules 1960 shall be treated to have been refused if the same did not receive the orders of the government within 1 year of the expiry of the lease and stated one-year period elapsed before January 7 1993. Such leases should also revert to the government.

9 private lessees who run the risk of losing their leases are BC Mohanty & Sons (Kamarda chromite mines, Jajpur), SC Padhi (Banspani iron ore and manganese mines, Keonjhar), MG Mohanty (Gonua iron ore and manganese mines, Sundergarh), Rasiklal & Company (Bimla limestone and dolomite mines, Sundergarh), Ranisati Mining Traders (Chutia Kadalibahala limestone & dolomite mines, Sundergarh), BD Patnaik (Kalaparbat iron ore mines Keonjhar), KN Ram & Company (Tanot-Roida iron ore mines, Keonjhar), TB Lal and Company (Jajang and Kaisa-Kolha-Barapada iron ore mines, Keonjhar).

Sources said that the list of miners facing the government action may grow longer as the process of identification of errant miners is still on.

Mr Prabodh Mohanty secretary of East Zone Mining Association said that "The decision will harm the mining industry. We will talk to the state government on it.”

Source - Business Standard

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