Keonjhar: Eight defaulting mine lease holders, who failed to pay penalties imposed on them for undertaking illegal mining, appeared before the court of the district magistrate here Saturday.
The court conducted hearings of five mine leases Saturday. Lease holders like HG Pandya, Gandhamardan Sponge Iron Ltd, TB Lala, Bhanj Minerals and SC Padhi were asked to pay their respective penalties by July 20.
The court also made it clear that if the lease holders fail to pay their fine by the stipulated time, tehsildars of their respective areas will be told to issue warrants against them and confiscate their properties.
A case related to Mala Ray is sub-judice in the Supreme Court. This case will be heard August 3. An appeal filed by BC Dev Mine is pending with the Union Steel and Mines Ministry. This case will be heard by the Keonjhar DM court Auguast 17.
A case of SN Dasmohapatra Mine is also sub-judice in the Supreme Court and it will be heard by the DM court July 26.
Notably, the Keonjhar DM court has been holding hearings of the cases in a phased manner. The first phase of the hearing of the cases was held July 28, 2018.
Some miners have deposited their penalties while many others have not.
It may be noted here that the Supreme Court had directed the state government to recover the penalties from the scam-tainted mine owners. Justice MB Shah Commission had probed the multi-crore mining scam in the state and submitted its report to the apex court.
On the basis of the MB Shah Commission report, the errant miners have been imposed 100 per cent fine. In case of violation of the SC order, the miners had been asked to pay the fine along with interest.
Notices had been issued against 23 lease holders of 31 mines. A penalty of Rs 6350 core had been imposed on these defaulting mines. A certificate case is also in progress in the Keonjhar DM’s court in this regard.
PNN