Keonjhar: The court of the District Magistrate held the final hearing for three mining lease holders who had defaulted in paying their fines for illegal mining in Keonjhar district Friday.
The DM has issued warrants against three mining firms BK Mohanty, Bhanj Minerals and Basudev Agrawal for attachment of their assets.
On August 4, the court of the District Magistrate (DM) had held the second phase of hearing in the case regarding confiscation of properties of eight mining firms who had not paid penalties for illegal mining.
The six mining firms deposed before the court through their counsels and sought more time for replies. Firms like SC Padhi, Mesco, V Mineral, Facor, Narayani and Sons, Mineral Trading Syndicate, BD Patnaik and SN Dasmohapatra appeared in court.
The Supreme Court had directed the state government to recover penalties from the scam involved mine owners. Many miners had deposited their penalties while some others had not done so.
The Mines Department had moved the DM’s court for confiscation of their assets. The court had served notices on the nine miners earlier.
The first phase of the hearing of the case was held July 28, 2018. Six firms had sought more time to file their replies. The case of Gandhmardan Sponge Industries, BPML, HG Pandya and Mala Ray and Narayani and Sons were heard August 25, 2018.
When the first phase of hearing of the case was underway, mine owners like Mala Ray, SC Padhi and MR Das paid their penalties.
As per the SC directive, the Mines Department had issued notices to 23 lease holders of 31 mines as they had not paid penalties of Rs 6,350 crore.
PNN