The hefty penalty of Rs 70,000 crore on excess ore extraction that has caught many a mine lessee off guard is poised to swell further with the state government readying to send showcause notices to 44 more lessees.

A high-powered committee of the state government had found 104 lessees guilty of raising ore beyond IBM (Indian Bureau of Mines) ratified mining plan. The mining department has already slapped showcause notices on 60 miners in Joda and Koira sectors. The penalty on the balance 44 miners has been worked out at around Rs 5,000 crore.