Bhubaneswar The worst fear of Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC), state government-owned company, has come true. The company has lost iron ore worth R34 crore in rains.

Sources in OMC say iron ore fines dumped at Gandhamardan mines and Kumitar mines have been lost due to rains. A huge stock of iron ore were lost as it could not take adequate storage measures to protect minerals, sources said, adding the company is now trying to recover the washed out fines.

The state government has constituted a committee to look into cases of mining outside the lease area

After taking serious note of illegal mining beyond leasehold area in Odisha, the Shah Commission of enquiry has urged the state government officials and Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) to undertake joint field verification of such cases. "The Shah panel has asked the officials of departments of revenue, forest & environment and mining to take up field visits of such mines jointly with IBM. The panel has also called for submission of a report by the end of this month”, a senior government official told Business Standard.

Total of 108 lessees in the dock for producing ore in excess of the quantum approved under Act

Continuing its crackdown on excess ore extracted by mine owners, the Odisha government has initiated prosecution against 11 mine owners for raising ore beyond the approved limits of Environment (Protection) EP Act-1986. A total of 108 lessees are in dock for producing ore in excess of the quantum approved under EP Act. For the balance 97 lessees, collectors of respective districts have been asked to initiate prosecution. The violations have been recorded in case of iron ore, manganese, chromite, limestone, dolomite and quartzite mines.

PANJIM: The Congress in Goa has expressed apprehensions that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s statement about the negative impact of mining on GDP, will prove costly for the mining industry.

Party spokesperson Sudip Tamhankar told a press conference on Friday that Parrikar’s statement will prove to be a set back for mining dependents and ancillary units, who are currently facing financial crisis due to mining ban.

The controversial Thriveni Earth Movers, alleged to be indulging in large-scale illegal mining in the State, on Friday said the company provided all relevant documents to Justice M B Shah commissio

The Shah Commission has asked Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) and Sarada Mines to submit relevant information on violation of Rule-37 of Mineral Concession Rules-1960 by November 11.

The probe panel has sought information on whether environment clearance was available for conveyor belt of Sarada Mines’ Thakurani iron ore mine lease, the quantum of ore despatched to JSPL's end-use plant at Raigharh and if ore extracted from the mine was put to any other use.

PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said that the mining industry in the State should be treated with respect, rather than be looked at as a villain.

“Today mining industry stands at the topmost level in the villain category, irrespective of the fact that industry has generated wealth for state, employment opportunities and other forms of work,” he said.

Shah panel seeks impact on Odisha's economy

The Justice M B Shah Commission of enquiry probing into allegations of large scale illegal mining activities in Odisha has sought a detailed response from the government on the impact of suspension of scores of mine leases on the state's economy. “The panel chairman- Justice M B Shah has wrote to the state chief secretary, seeking the government's views on the impact of suspension of a large number of mines on the overall economy of the state. With just a little over one-fifth of mines operating, it is bound to have a cascading effect on the economy as a whole apart from hurting mining revenue collection”, a senior government official told Business Standard.

Bhubaneswar When Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Jena described Orissa’s mining scam as bigger than those of Goa and Karnataka put together, it might have been only a figure of speech. But indication of how big it could be has come now, with a penalty demand note of Rs 68,000-odd crore sent by the Orissa steel and mines department to the holders of 103 mining leases for excess mining between 2000 and 2010.

The showcause and demand notices to companies such as Tata Steel, Essel Mining, Rungtas and Indrani Patnaik for extracting iron ore and manganese beyond the permissible limit set by the authorities came almost three years after the mining scam had broken out in the state. Incidentally, the order came when members of the Justice M B Shah Commission, now probing the scam, were touring the state for the third time in less than a year.

Pegs the negative impact due to halt in the mining activity on GDP to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore

Goa's economic growth will be impacted by halt in the mining activity, although the state has seen 3% growth in revenue collection, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said. He pegged the negative impact due to halt in the mining activity on GDP to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore, which would be offset up to Rs 3,000 crore by implementation of various measures.