By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/JODA/KOIRA: With lease period expired on March 31, the mining operations in as many as 12 mines block under Joda mining circle of State’s mineral rich Keonjhar , have stopped operations following notice from State Steel and Mines and Forest and Environment Departments.
Earlier, 7 mines under Koira circle in Sundargarh have stooped operations. Keonjhar DFO Santosh Joshi has issued orders to the KJS Alluwallia grabbing Nuagaon iron mines, KP Enterprises holding Thakurani Mines, Rungta Mines Ltd holding Jajang mines, Mangilal Rungta holding Kalimati siljoda Mines, Rungta Sons holding Katasahi Mines, Essel Mining holding Kasia Mines and Jilling Mines, KN Ram Roida –II mines, Kalinga Mining Corporation mines, Sirajjudin and Co Balada Mines, RP Sao Guali Mines, Pattnaik Minerals Joribahal Mines to stop mining operation in the respective mines.
The companies that have acquired these mines in the recent bids would start their operations after obtaining statutory clearances. Till then operations would remain closed, said sources.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Government has given 6 months extension time to old lease holder of as many as 21 Iron, Ore and Manganese mines blocks under Joda-Koira and Rairangpur circles of State’s mineral bearing Keonjhar-Sundargarh-Mayurbhanj districts, to transport their legalised produced minerals after the lease period expired on March 31 in view of the nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, sources in State Steel and Mines Department, said on Wednesday.
The DFO of Bonai Forest Range under Koira Mining circle has directed , Range Officer, Koira to ensure that no mining and other activities in as many as 7 mines , those lease period expired on March 31 but as per the provisions in MMDR act, the State Government has allowed the old lease holder to transport their legally produced minerals from the mines within 6 months from now in view of COVID-19.
The legally produced stocks at Narayanposhi Iron and Managese Mines block of old lease holder AMTC Pvt Ltd, Teherai Iron and Managnese Mines of BICO Pvt Ltd, Kanther-Koira Manganese Mines of Rungta Mines Ltd, Kalmang Managanese mines of RML, Nadidihi Iron and Manganese BICO Pvt Ltd, Nadidihi Iron and Manangse mines of Feegrade &Co Pvt Ltd and Gonua Iron and Managnese block of PK Ahluwalia, shall be transported within 6 months,” said sources.
