23 Miners Yet To Pay Fine Of Over Rs 2,723 Cr To Odisha Govt: Minister Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Thursday informed the Assembly that over Rs 2,723 crore is yet to be paid by 23 mining lease holders towards penalty for raising excess iron and manganese ores in violation of lease agreement and approved mining limit.

The state government had served demand notice to 133 mines owners for payment of compensation amounting to over Rs 18,000 crore towards excess mining, Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena said in a written answer in the House.

Out of Rs 18,000 crore penalty, Rs 2,723 crore is yet to be collected from 23 mining lease holders, he said.

The demand notice had been served to the mines owners for payment of compensation towards excess mining pursuant to the August 2, 2017 order of the Supreme Court as per the recommendation of Justice M B Shah commission investigating illegal mining in the state and on the basis of a report of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the apex court.

The apex court had directed 133 mining lease holders for payment of penalty of Rs 18,526.47 crore to the state government by December 31, 2017 as compensation towards excess production of minerals in violation of statutory norms.

He said certificate cases were filed against the defaulting mines owners under Odisha Public Demands Recovery Act, 1962. The Steel and Mines department had written to collectors of concerned districts requesting them to take necessary action as per the law to recover the penalty.