Probe panel hears cases of 27 mines

The Justice MB Shah commission enquiring into illegal mining issues in Odisha on Wednesday will hear on violation of Rule-37 of Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960, an exercise that remained incomplete in its last hearing. The probe panel on Tuesday heard cases of 27 mines of lessees like Rungta Mines and MGM Group on the first day of its three-day hearing in Ahmedabad.

BHUBANESWAR: The M B Shah Commission, inquiring into illegal mining in Odisha, will resume hearing at its headquarters in Ahmedabad from Tuesday, official sources said.

The commission is slated to hear views of miners having lease to extract minerals from 57 mines on various violations and the contentious rule 37 of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, a government source here said.

Nearly 323 mining lease applications are pending for renewal

The state steel & mines department is set to miss the deadline stipulated by the Odisha High Court (HC) for disposing off pending applications for mine lease renewal. In an interim order delivered on December 21 last year, the HC had instructed the state government to dispose off all applications for renewal of mining leases within three months.

Clash with ruling party members ultimately resulted in walkout by Congress legislators

The state government on Monday faced heat in the assembly over the controversial issue of mapping of mine lease boundaries with the Opposition Congress alleging that the DGPS (differential global positioning system) survey has exposed the state’s complicity in loot of minerals. The clash with the ruling party members ultimately resulted in walkout by the Congress legislators

State says IBM report on 'mineral development' not binging

The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has sought from the Odisha government the details of 24 mining leases, which are awaiting extension of the validity period of the leases, before giving its recommendation whether the leases should be renewed in the interest of 'mineral development'. The communication from IBM is in contrast with October 2012 executive order of the state government, which asserted that the state is empowered to take a decision about 'mineral development' while processing renewal application.

PANJIM: The State government is likely to terminate the leases of 40 mines, whose delay in filing the ‘J Form’ was condoned by the former Congress government.

Directorate of Mines and Geology on September 15, 2012 had issued show cause notices to 40 mining firms, to explain why action should not be initiated against them for unlawful condonation of delay and why the leases should not be declared as null and void.

The Odisha government has agreed to form a committee to look into lease area encroachment by mine lease holders after getting direction from Shah Commission to this effect. The committee is scheduled to start functioning from March 4 and submit its report soon.

Illegal mining enquiry agency, Justice M B Shah Commission on Wednesday had asked the state government to form a committee to demarcate lease areas of different miners after they complained that the maps being referred by the Commission and the state government were not accurate.
"The committee will have seven members including representative from the state government, Shah Commission and Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM)," Shah said.

This recent CAG audit report on receipts and royalties from mining in Chhattisgarh for the period period 2006-07 to 2010-11 reveals that a large number of stone crusher leases were operating without environmental consent.

The members of Shah Commission, enquiring into illegal mining activities, will reach Bhubaneswar on Tuesday.

The fifth round of hearing of the state government and the miners by the Commission is expected to take place from Wednesday after Justice M B Shah reaches here. A team of the state officials including steel and mines secretary, will present their views in front of the panel members. They will be assisted by three Supreme Court advocates,

The Union mines ministry also advised the state govt to withdraw its resolution dated October 3 and 12 which goes against the interest of local miners.

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