Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 8, 2015 : Decks are cleared for reopening of seven more mines as per provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 with the nod of the Odisha government’s inter-departmental committee on mining on Wednesday.

The committee headed by Development Commissioner U N Behera verified the documents submitted by the owners of eight mines of which seven were cleared, officials said.

“The committee has decided to recommend extension of the lease period of seven mines out of the total eight proposals placed before it. In one case, some more information is required before making recommendations for its resumption,” Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty told media persons.

The state government has initiated the process for reopening of closed mines under the amended MMDR Act, 2015. Earlier, the state government had allowed the reopening of 29 mines in the state.

The committee’s recommendations are expected to get the state government’s approval within three-four days, Mohanty added.

The eight mines whose proposals were placed before the committee were: RB Das Iron & Manganese Ore, Tarini Prasad Mohanty Iron Ore & Manganese Ore, M/s Tarini Minerals (P) Ltd Iron Ore and Mala Ray & Others, Iron & Manganese Ore under Joda Circle, BC Mohanty & Sons (P) Ltd Chromite Ore and M/s Tata Steel Chromite Ore under Jajpur Circle, Gitarani Mohanty, Iron Ore under Koida Circle and Gandhamardan Sponge Iron Ore at Putlipani in Keonjhar.

Only the case of Mala Ray & Others has been put on hold for want of the necessary documents

Leases for captive and non-captive mines have been extended till 2030 and 2020 respectively under the amended MMDR Act.

The Committee, on April 4 this year, had recommended to the state government reopening of 26 mines which was approved by the chief minister on April 17.