The Wildlife Society of Orissa (WSO) has asked the ministry of environment to investigate into the Jindal Steel and Power (JSP) plant illegally drawing groundwater for its upcoming power plant in Angul district.

JSP is building a 12-million tonne steel plant with a captive power plant of 135 MW.
Khirod Singh, a lawyer and farmer in Angul district, pointed out that, “Our tube wells and ponds have all begun to go dry and by mid-March we will not even have drinking water. Last year also we suffered the same fate.”

BHUBANESWAR: Confirming illegal mining in Odisha, Justice M B Shah, who is heading a one-man commission inquiring into the illegalities in the state's mineral sector, on Thursday said miners who ar

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh has opposed the Forest Advisory Committee recommendation to divert over 500 hectares of land in Saranda forest division of Jharkhand for iron ore mini

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has recommended diverting over 500 hectares of forest land for an iron ore mining project in the Saranda forest division of Jharkhand, part of the core area of t

BHUBANESWAR: The Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL) on Thursday announced it would commission the first phase of its six million tonne per annum (MTPA) steel plant in Angul within two months.

"By March we will achieve two MTPA production capacity in the first phase," company chairman Naveen Jindal said after meeting senior state government functionaries at the secretariat here. About 30,000 people were working round the clock to meet the deadline, he informed, adding the facility would achieve full capacity of six MTPA within the next three years.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that it may lob the issue of granting a prospective iron ore licence to South Korean giant Posco back to the central government.

The top court raised this possibility and sought responses on Wednesday from all parties fighting over the grant of the Khandadhar mines in Odisha to Posco. The top court is hearing cross appeals filed by local company Geomin and Korean giant Posco against a high court decision cancelling the prospecting licence awarded to Posco in the area.

Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller & Auditor General of India(CAG) has detected large-scale irregularities in allotment of land and houses by the Orissa government and estimates a scam of about R4,000 crore.

While sending a draft report to the Orissa government, a copy of which is available with FE, the CAG has suggested that the land and houses allotted to various individuals and organisations is in violation of the laws and policies and be cancelled immediately.

During the year, govt also contemplated to open up sector for commercial mining

Coal fired a minefield of controversies in 2012, fuelled by CAG estimates of a huge Rs 1.86 lakh crore loss for allocation of coal blocks to business houses without auction which served as fodder to the Opposition parties to target the government. The blaze started from a leaked draft report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) that initially had a figure of Rs 10.6 lakh crore loss resulting from the controversial allocation of coal blocks to about 100 companies without bidding.

The Directorate of Mines on Monday informed the Supreme Court appointed Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) that it has completed the process of lease renewal of 40 mines, which are working under deemed extension provision.

“The CEC queried about the status of mines operating under deemed extension provision. We informed them that we have sent recommendation letters for 40 mines out of 50 working under deemed extension basis. Rest of the cases will be expedited soon,” said Deepak Mohanty, after his meeting with CEC officials here on Monday.

As many as 54 mining leases in Odisha are operating under deemed extension following the expiry of their leases. The expiry period of the leases ranges from five to 25 years.

According to information given by minister for steel & mines Rajani Kant Singh in the state assembly, mine owners like Tata Steel, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL), Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Essel Mining & Industries Ltd (EMIL), Mid East Integrated Steel Ltd, Ferro Alloys Corporation (FACOR), Rungta Sons and KJS Ahluwalia are operating their leases under deemed extension.