Errant mine leaseholders face closure from January 1

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Bhubaneswar, Dec 29: With only two days left for mining firms to deposit penalties as directed by the Supreme Court in the mining scam, the state government Friday said leaseholders who fail to pay fine by deadline of December 31 will face closure of mines from January 1.
Steel and Mines minister Prafulla Mallick also told Orissa POST that new operations will not be allowed to be started until existing dues were cleared. Sources in the steel and mines department said the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) has paid over Rs1,900 crore towards to the state government towards penalties. Officials also said miners had started depositing penalties and that “companies [have so far] paid Rs2,000 crore”.
Mallick said that a clear picture regarding the collection of fine amount will emerge the evening of December 31. The state government will then submit a report before the Supreme Court January 1, the minister said.
Of the 147 mining firms that have been served notices to pay penalties to the tune of Rs17,576 crore towards excess mining and flouting of environment clearance, 54 mines are operational.
The Supreme Court has fixed January 17 as the next date for hearing on the case. The apex court had asked mining leaseholders, engaged in illegal mining in the state, to pay 100 per cent penalty by December 31.
Some mining firms had also moved the apex court against government’s move. However, the Supreme Court rejected their plea.
In another related development, the leaseholders have got backing from the revision cell of ministry of mines as the cell has asked the state government to not to initiate coercive measures against the firms to recover the fines until the next hearing by the cell January 22.