The R&R Plans have been prepared and approved by CEC for 51 mining leases comprising of 28 Category A and 23 Category B mining leases

The ore-starved steel mills in Karnataka have some sweet news to cheer as the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), has recommended the resumption of mining in all Category A mining leases. The CEC has also recommended that the court may consider permitting the resumption of mining operations in Category B mining leases subject to fulfillment of certain conditions.

Reacting to the Centre’s no to its administrative orders putting restrictions on mining lessees in the state, the Odisha government said that it is not bound to heed to the Central missive on the issue.

“They cannot compel us to withdraw the orders. We have not violated any act. These decisions were taken for benefit of stand-alone mineral based industries. We have followed all the rules and paraphernalia mentioned in the MMDR Act,” said Rajnikant Singh, state minister for steel and mines.

Miners call for legalisation of trade; cite difficulties in agriculture

Revenue Department personnel, headed by Devanahalli Tahsildar Dr N C Venkataraju on Sunday, raided illegal sand mining units for the second time in the past two weeks. The raids began at 6:30 am and lasted until 1 pm. Using earth movers, the team destroyed all units and seized a pumpset used for mining operations. Venkataraju recommended that the deputy commissioner acquire the two acres of land where illegal sand mining is taking place. “Following this, we will lodge complaints with police against those involved in mining,” he told Deccan Herald.

Three resolutions of the Odisha government to impose unprecedented curbs on mining activity and triggering a legal tussle between the government and the mine lessees have come across a central government wall.

The ministry of mines has asked it to scrap all the three resolutions, saying they breach mining laws. Through these resolutions, the state steel and mines department sought to achieve a three-pronged objective. One, reserving all the remaining mineral-bearing areas (not leased to any private entity) in favour of its company, the Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC). Two, making it mandatory for standalone iron ore miners to sell at least half their output to state-based industries. Three, restricting the area of a private lease at the time of renewal.

The move may have impact on mining ops across the country

The Centre is set to cancel bauxite mining leases given to the a Middle Eastbased company in Andhra Pradesh’s tribal-dominated Vishakhapatnam district for violating Forest Rights Act and provisions of Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act. The move may have impact on mining operations across the country.

RSB Metaltech Ltd, part of the Odisha based RSB Group, has sought long-term bauxite supply for its 0.70 million tonne per annum alumina refinery proposed at Rayagada.

“Considering the mega investment and the corresponding socio-economic development for the state arrangement of sourcing of bauxite for shorter horizons will not be prudent,” the company said. RSB’s alumina refinery and its smelter at Dhenkanal envisages an investment of Rs 6,800 crore. As a buyer of bauxite, RSB Metaltech wants to be associated right from the exploration of the mine and also during formulation of the mine plan, so that the assured quality of bauxite is delivered over the life of the alumina plant.

PANJIM/NEW DELHI: The Goa Foundation PIL which resulted in suspension of all mining operations in Goa is listed before the Forest Bench of the Supreme Court for Friday, but it may or may not come up as six other cases are listed before it for consideration by the Bench that meets only in the post-lunch session from 2 pm.

The petition was filed in the wake of Justice M B Shah Commission report on illegal mining in Goa, which exposed projected illegalities amounting to Rs 35,000 crore.

With the successful re-auction of 13 sand quarries in four districts, the state government raked in a record Rs 14.90 crore today. The auction has ensured that mining contractors owing allegiance to the Shiromani Akali Dal wrest control of the mining operations in the state.

Sources said there was little competition during the bidding, which indicated that the bidders had reached an “understanding” among themselves. There was no collusive bidding, because the mining contractors had reportedly decided on how to share the profits in the business once they were successful in the bidding.

A patchwork green and black — hills of glistening coal and forested flats — sprawls over 2,000 sq km in the East Jaintia Hills. The digging, splitting and sorting of coal is ceaseless, as is the coming and going of SUVs loaded with migrant labour. A fine black film covers every inch of Ladrymbai — every aspect of life in this mining town revolves around coal.

Of the 29 candidates for Meghalaya's assembly in the East Jaintia Hills, at least 13 are well known coal mine owners; two have limestone mines. In the constituency of Khliehriat, all five candidates — one each from the Congress and United Democratic Party and three independents — are coal barons.

The Odisha government has allowed miners working under special conditions after expiry of lease validity to sell iron ore raised before October 2012 in the open market, which traders say would boost supply by around 10 million tonnes (mt).

"The lifting of the restriction would enable miners to sell iron ore and fines stacked since October, which would be somewhere between nine and 10 mt. It’s a welcome step and will boost ore availability for steel makers,” said Prabodh Mohanty, a spokesperson for the East Zone Miners' Association.