Green delays to stoke red terror, cautions Beni

“Continuation of mining operations in Bolani and Jharkhand has become critical for SAIL. I request for your personal intervention so that SAIL under my ministry does not have to reduce its operations in the steel plants,” the steel minister said in the communication to his MoEF counterpart. Mining in SAIL's Bolani mines has been suspended since November 11 this year for want of working permission for continuation of mining operation in the broken up forest areas (demarkated for mining). Although the Naveen Patnaik government has recommended for Stage-II forest clearance on November 7 for diversion of forest land for 908.78 hectares in 5.1 square mile lease of Bolani mine, but it is pending with the MoEF. The mine produces 13,000 tonne of iron ore per day and is a major source of supply to the maharatna's Durgapur plant.