By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 4, 2015 :

The recommendation for reopening of the 26 mines came after an inter-departmental meeting chaired by development commissioner Upendra Nath Behera at the state secretariat here.

The decision recommending reopening of the closed mines was taken in accordance with the provisions of the new MMDR Act 2015, officials said.

“As per the provisions of the amendments made in the MMDR Act, we have recommended extension of leases of 26 mines that had come up for our consideration. These mines had no cases of violation of lease conditions against them and are thus eligible for lease extension. The meeting decided to extend their period of lease,” director of mines Deepak Mohanty told reporters after the meeting.

the Odisha government had passed express orders in case of eight mines following the Supreme Court’s order to stop operation at 26 iron ore and manganese mining leases pending for second and subsequent renewal. But operations of 18 mines continue to be suspended since the government did not pass similar orders to facilitate the resumption of their operation.

The Committee now has recommended the state government for reopening of 18 iron ore and manganese ore mines closed on Supreme Court orders last year.

It is now up to the state government to take a final call on the recommendation, said Mr Mohanty.

“We have recommended extension of lease period till 2030 for captive mines and till 2020 for non-captive mines. The 26 mines whose reopening was recommended include the 18 mines that were closed for second and subsequent renewal following Supreme Court orders on May 16, 2014 and eight iron ore and manganese ore mines which were operating under express orders. Out of them, lease deeds have been executed for three mines belonging to Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and one belonging to the state owned Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) has been given an extension. The rest include mines of Tatas, V K Lal and ACC Bargarh,” the director of mines said.

The meeting among others was attended by senior officials of steel and mines department, director of mines, director of geology, law secretary, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), personnel from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) and officials of Odisha Remote Sensing Applications Center (ORSAC).