Poachers have killed 73 elephants in the State since 2005 and 157 persons arrested during the period on the charge of killing wild animals.

KEONJHAR: Restrictions will be imposed on plying of heavy vehicles in bordering areas of Odisha and Jharkhand to curb mineral theft.

Perturbed over illegal transportation of minerals through forest and other routes, Odisha and Jharkhand are planning to impose restriction on plying of heavy vehicles in border areas and mapping of such routes indicating places where low height barricades need to be erected or trenches dug.

Efforts to curb illegal mining would be discussed at the second inter-state coordination committee meeting later to be held on August 21 at Keonjhar. Senior officials of Odisha and Jharkhand would attend the meeting, a senior official said adding first such meeting was held on February 2.

The illegal mining investigator Justice MB Shah Commission has asked the state government to provide the survey and demarcation maps of 29 more iron ore and manganese mines in the state.

“Out of 195 mines, the Commission has received the survey and demarcation of 148 mines. As mentioned in the group plan of existing mining leases of Keonjhar and Sundrgarh districts map this Commission has not received survey and demarcation of 29 leases,” Sudhir S Shah, registrar of the commission, said in a letter to the state steel and mines department.

The State Government on Monday said it is optimistic about establishment of ArcelorMittal’s proposed 12 million tonne per annum (mtpa) steel plant in Keonjhar district in a peaceful manner.

The state government has decided to wait for Supreme Court decision on Presidential reference on allocation of natural resources before granting any mining leases for coal and other minerals to user industries with whom it has signed memorandum of understanding.

The Centre had approached the apex court this April to settle the issue, whether judiciary will have a say on policy decisions such as allocation of natural resources, after the court held that all natural resources should be allotted through auction route.

Three lessees charged with violation of Rule-37 of Mineral Concession Rules-1960 – Indrani Patnaik, KJS Ahluwalia and R P Sao- have filed petitions in the revision authority under Union ministry of mines, dealing a blow to the ongoing investigation by the state steel & mines department.

Indrani Patnaik has even got an interim order from the revision authority barring the state government from passing any final order in case of Rule-37 violation before the lessee’s revision application is disposed off by the authority. The state government, however, has been allowed to carry on hearing in the case, said a steel & mines department official.

Deputy Director of Mines (DDM) for Joda mining circle has issued notices to eight iron and manganese mines for payment of royalty dues amounting to Rs 350 crore on the basis of updated ore prices issues by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).

The notices for differential royalty collection were sent to Joda East Iron Ore mines (Rs 90.19 crore), Nua Gaon mines of KJS Ahluwalia group (Rs 3.32 crore), K N Ram mines (Rs 10.13 crore), Mesco mines (Rs 12.41 crore), R P Sao Guali mine (Rs 93.59 crore), Jajang mine of Rungta Group (Rs 60.66 crore), Ziling mine of Essel Mining (Rs 25.21 crore), and Kashia mine, also of Essel Mining (Rs 23.52 crore).

Probe finds the company selling entire produce to JSPL without agreement

Sarada Mines is in the dock for glaring violation of Rule 37 of Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960. The lessee which holds lease of the Thakurani iron ore mines spread over 947.04 hectares in Keonjhar district has been found to sell its entire run of mine (ROM) produce to Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) without any agreement.

Patnaik Steel and Alloys, a subsidiary of Patnaik Minerals, the lease holder of Banachapani iron ore mine in Keonjhar district, has been found to have violated several forest and environment rules.

This is revealed from an enquiry conducted by the State Director of Mines into the issue. “The matter has been enquired into by officers of Directorate of Mines and basing on their report and verification, the following irregularities have been noticed along with other violations,” the state steel and mines department said while asking the state revenue and environment ministry to initiate action against the miner.