Bhubaneswar:The Odisha government Monday issued notices to seven iron ore and manganese mine lessees to stop mining operations initiating action against defaulters those who failed to pay the compensation amount by December 31, as per the Supreme Court directives.
A total of Rs 8,223 crore fine was reportedly collected from mine leaseholders.
“Out of the total 131 leesees asked to pay the compensation, 72 mine leaseholders including owners 42 working mines paid a total of Rs 8,223 crore by December 31, 2017, ” said the state director of mines, Pradeep Mohanty adding, “The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the apex court to probe illegal mining in the state, had calculated a collection of Rs 17,500 crore fine from leaseholders.
The director said that notices are being served on the defaulters.
Stating that SC has fined the next hearing on January 17, 2018 the director said that the State government will submit the status report on fine collection to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the SC in two to three days.
The apex court on August 2,2017 had directed the state government to recover 100 per cent compensation compared to 30 per cent recommended by the CEC from the lessees towards illegally extracted iron ore and manganese ore between 2000-01 and 2010-11.
