Naveen in a spot of bother by the mining scam

Bhubaneswar: Orissa chief minister, Naveen Patnaik seems to be in a spot of bother following the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Supreme Court confirming illegal mining due to official laxity through a report submitted to the Apex Court. The Supreme Court has asked the State Government and others to appear before the court on May 7.

The CEC has clearly pointed out that there was something seriously wrong in the enforcement of environmental guidelines as these mines have been blindly given “deemed extension” despite expiry of the leases.

“The mining activities were going on in a large number of the mines in Orissa without the requisite approvals under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Environmental Clearances, and the Air and Water Acts. The mining activities also exceeded the production limit as approved under the Mining Plans”, said the report a copy of which is with “The ET”

The interim report prepared by CEC member MK Jiwrajka on April 26, also said, “A large number of the mines have remained operational for long periods of time after the expiry of the lease period because of the delays in taking decisions on the renewal applications filed by the respective mining lease holders and consequently the mines becoming eligible for 'deemed extension' as provided under Rule 24 A (6), MCR, 1960”.

As many as 215 mines were operative for 10 to 20 years on deemed renewal status. The "deemed extension" clause is primarily meant to deal with contingency situation and to ensuring that the mining operations do not come to an abrupt end because of administrative delays in deciding on the renewal applications. This provision is not meant to be availed of indefinitely. “Moreover, continuing mining over a long period of time without renewal of the mining lease becomes a potential source for serious illegalities and irregularities”, it said.

The state has so far granted 596 mining leases for extraction of different kinds of minerals. Of this, 341 mines are operating while the remaining 255 are non working/lapsed mines.

Acting on a petition filed by an Oriya daily editor, Rabi Das, the CEC sought an explanation from the Biju Janata Dal government on the allegations that mines were operating illegally in forest areas, which even the state government had admitted by saying that it had seized illegally mined iron ore and bauxite.