By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/JODA/BARBIL: The mysterious deemed extension of mines blocks including till March 31, 2020, that were given in clear violation of the MMDR Act, caused a loss of Rs 36,500 crore in last 5 years to Odisha Government.The State could have earned more than `36,500 crore during the five years, had the Government gone for open auction of the 3 mines.
Leader of Opposition, Pradipta Naik demanded action against former Steel and Mines Secretary RK Sharma and Director Mines, Deepak Mohanty for their alleged nexus with these illegal mines owners. The BJP leader accused both Sharma and Mohanty as the brain behind unlawful extension of lease period of three mines despite non-compliance of lease deed conditions and violation of several statutory provisions under MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2015. By making mockery of the MMDR (Amendment) Act, 2015, the Odisha government had given defaulting mining firms the benefit of raising minerals for five more years from 2015 till March 31, 2020.
