New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Mines has decided to meet the mining lease holders from Orissa next Tuesday to review the issue of iron ore mining following the lapse of the deadline for paying penalty as per the Supreme Court directive.
As per the Centre’s plan, Union Minister for Mines Narendra Singh Tomar Tuesday will meet both the mining lease holders who have paid the penalty and are continuing mining operations as well as the defaulters.
The meeting has been planned January 16 in New Delhi at around 2:30pm, which is scheduled to go for two hours at the mining ministry here. According to the agenda, two prime issues would be taken by during the meeting.
The issues, which have been officially listed, include enhancing iron ore production in Orissa and pricing of iron ore. The meeting will also be attended by seven mining lessees whose operations have been halted and 20 other non-working miners who have failed to pay the penalty as per the judgement of the Supreme Court in the illegal mining case.
The Supreme Court August 2 last year had levied penalty on the erring mining firms for violating several norms of the government and asked them to submit their funds by December 31, failing to which they may face suspension of their mining licences in the state.
PNN