Collect Fine With Interest From Default Mine Lessees: SC Tells Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: Taking strong exception to the non-deposit of penalty by some mine lessees, the Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Odisha government to collect the penalty from these default lessees with interest.

The apex court, in a special directive has asked the Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha (Idcol), to collect the penalty from the default mine lessees with 12 percent interest if they have not deposited the penalty in a specified time frame.

It also asked the state government to continue its efforts in the collection of penalty from other default mine lessees and take necessary steps to confiscate their property in case of non-payment of penalty.

Notably, the apex court on August 2 had imposed a penalty on 152 iron ore and manganese lessees in the state for illegal mining after they were found to have conducted operations without forest and environment clearances between 2000 and 2011.