By Our Correspondent
JODA/BARBIL: Locals mostly tribal people under Joda mining circle of Keonjhar in Odisha, have alleged before local BDO that, KN Mines Group, forcibly evicting them from their native place for Company’s expansion work. Locals of Tanto village alleged that with active support from district and local administration, the company illegally evicting them.
Sources said, 27.29 hectors of forest land have been converted into non-forest land for KN Ram Group’s pellet plant.Locals have approached the Joda BDO to stop any forceful Gram Sabha or public hearing for the company’s expansion work. Locals alleged that the company harassing local tribal people using outside force.
Locals have been opposing the expansion of production capacity from the existing 2.2 million TPA to 3.5 million TPA of Roida-2 iron mines of the Khatau Narbheram and Co situated at Tanto village under Barbil tehsil under Joda division in Keonjhar.
It may be noted here that KN Ram Mines Group run Roida-II mines block too under scanner for illegal mining and trading. KN Ram &Co had retained it’s the Roida II iron mines at a presidium of 90.90 percent in last mining auction. The Roida-II block has iron reserve of 27.188 million tonnes.
Roida II of Narbheram Steel & Power (p) Ltd which was part of the 20 blocks auctioned before March 2020 as per the revised MMDR Act, 2015, trend is similar.
Sources said, KN Ram Mines Group, was among the mines firm, which showing High grade iron ore in the 62-65 per cent Fe category as low grade ore (below 58 per cent Fe) to depress the average sale price (ASP) determined by Indian Bureau of Mines and higher volume of ore is exported claiming exemption of export duty.
The State government is losing Rs 6,199 per tonne of lumps of 65 per cent and above grade if it is shown at below 55 per cent Fe. In case of fines, the loss is Rs 3,550 a ton. The total loss incurred by the State would run into thousands of crore due to such practices of these mines firms.
Last year, ED had carried out search at KN Ram Mines Group on allegations that mines owner was alleged to be involved in bungling their stock in the mines with figure of the book. There were also allegations that some of them were obtaining goods permit pass from the mining office for despatch of low grade materials but actually, they were dispatching high grade materials causing huge loss to the Government.