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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Over 60% Orissa mines don't have clearances by Nitin Sethi

Over 60% Orissa mines don't have clearances by Nitin Sethi

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published Published on Jun 13, 2010   modified Modified on Jun 13, 2010


Is it possible to operate hundreds of illegal mines in India for years on end without being detected or prosecuted? And can their illegal operations be legitimised in one stroke and turned into "legit" business without anyone being booked for the stealthy extraction of millions of tonnes of precious ore?

If the questions pertain to Orissa, the answer to both questions is yes. The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has found that 215 out of 341 working mines — or more than 60% — in Orissa are operating without statutory central government clearances. Even more shockingly, some mines have been in business for years without even submitting a statutory mining plan to authorities.

Fifteen of these mines have been operating without clearances for more than 20 years while 17 operators have done so for 15-20 years. Another 38 mines have existed illegally for 10-15 years and 65 for 5-10 years. The other "illegal" 80 mines have operated for one-five years without proper clearances.

What is even more shocking is that the state government and officials seem to have been aware of the mines in question, winking at the flagrant state-wide violation of laws by hiding behind a loophole in the Mines and Minerals (development and regulation) Act 1957.

This is how the scheme works: If a mine operator applies for renewal of a lease within prescribed time, then under Rule 24A(6) of the Minerals Concession Rules 1960 — introduced in 1994 — the lease is automatically 'deemed' to have been extended till the state government actually deals with the applications.


The Times of India, 14 June, 2010, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Over-60-Orissa-mines-dont-have-clearances/articleshow/6044667.cms


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