Orissa imposes penalty on ‘errant miners’

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Debabrata Mohanty: New Delhi, Nov 02 2012, 00:35 IST

After Karnataka and Goa, Orissa has emerged as the third state to crack down on alleged cases of mining irregularities. With the MB Shah Commission now looking into multi-crore mining scam in the state, the Orissa steel and mines department has slapped a penalty of Rs 23,904 crore on 27 miners in just one mining circle of the mineral-rich Keonjhar district for extraction of ore beyond the permissible limits.

Among those who have been slapped with the penalty notices are Tata Steel, Aditya Birla-owned Essel Mining and the state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation.

The deputy director of Joda mining circle, Ballabh Nayak said the Tata Steel is the biggest violator among all leaseholders and has been asked to pay Rs 6,265 crore. Others who have been charged are Essel Mining (Rs 4,530 crore), RP Sao (Rs 3,872 crore), Sarada Mines (Rs 2,845 crore), KJS Ahluwalia (Rs 2,022 crore), Serajuddin & Co (Rs 1,983 crore).

The penalty would be recovered within 30 days of the notice issued by the mines department. The companies would also have to pay simple interest at the rate of 24 per cent per annum on the sum towards the price until they fully pay the price of the minerals. Officials said after Joda, such penalty amounts would be raised in other mining circles of the state.

There was no reaction from any of the leaseholders about the penalities imposed on them, but a senior mines department official said the order would “not be tenable”. “It would be challenged in court

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