Joda: Following a Supreme Court order, some mining firms under Joda mining circle of Keonjhar have deposited penalties imposed on them at the steel and mines department while most have defaulted.
Reports said 38 mines, which had violated norms of environmental clearance, forest protection and carried out excess mining have paid the penalty while major mining firms have not done it.
The steel and mines department is to recover `12,159 crore from Joda mining circle towards penalty. 38 mine lease holders have paid a cumulative fine of `4,818 crore while 37 mines have defaulted in violation of the apex court order. As per the SC order, these mines will surely face closure.
The major mine defaulters included Arjun Lodha (Balaguda iron and manganese mines) with Rs 860 crore; BC Dev (Iganijharan iron and manganese mines) with Rs 400 crore; BD Patnaik (Kalaparbat iron mine) with Rs 165 crore; BK Patnaik (Uliburu iron mine) with Rs 448 crore; BPME Ltd (Bhadrasahi-Kolharoida iron and manganese mines) with Rs 682; BPME Ltd (Thakurani iron mine) with Rs 773 crore; Bhanja Minerals (Ingajharan iron and manganese mine) with Rs 491 crore; Dr S Pradhan (Balita iron and manganese mines) with Rs 208 crore; Dr S Pradhan (Baitarani iron mine) with Rs 821 crore; Facor (Katasahi mangane mine) with Rs 247 crore; HG Pandya (Jajang iron and manganese mines) with Rs 698 crore; MR Das (Deojhar iron mine) with Rs 660 crore; MT Syndicate (Bhulabeda iron mine) with Rs 615 crore; Malaray and others (Jalhari iron and manganese mines) with Rs 276 crore; Mid East Steel Ltd (Roida-1 iron mine) with Rs 283 crore; Narayani and Sons (Suruguturia iron mines) with Rs 209 crore; OMC (Roida-C iron and manganese mines) with `622 crore; OMDC (Bagiaburu iron and manganese mines) with Rs 549 crore; OMDC (Belagunthi iron and manganese mine) with Rs 787 crore; OMDC (Bhadrsahi iron and manganese mines) with Rs 408 crore; OMDC (Bhadrasahi iron mines) with Rs 759 crore; Patnaik Minerals (Jaribahal manganese mines) with Rs 709 crore; Patnaik Minerals (Jaribahal iron mine) with `413 crore; RP Sao (Galai iron mine) with Rs 855 crore; SC Padhi (Gurubeda iron mines) with `835 crore; SC Padhi (Bansapani iron mine) with Rs 711 crore; SD Sharma (Raika iron mine) with `892 crore; SN Dasmohapatra (Koharadkala manganese mine) with Rs 747 crore; Sharda Mines Pvt Ltd (Thakurani-B iron mine) with Rs 640 crore; BB Lal and Co (Kasim Kolha Barpada) with `5 crore, BB Lal and Co (Jajang iorn and manganese mines) with Rs 114 crore; BD Patnaik(Kalaparbat iron mine) with Rs 148 crore; BPME Ltd (Bhadrasahi-Kolharoida) with Rs 915 crore; BPME Ltd(Thakurani iron mine) with Rs 136 crore; Essel mining and Industries Ltd( Kasia iron and manganese mines) with Rs 519 crore; Essel mining and Industries Ltd (Jiling-Langalata iron and manganese mines) with Rs 961 crore. There are several other defaulters too.
These mines had tried to evade paying penalty, but were unsuccessful. They had also wanted to clear penalty in installments. It is up to the apex court to decide on the next course of action against these defaulter mining firms.
PNN
