PANJIM: The minor mineral extractors in the state will now have to seek permission from union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) before applying for the licence with the state Mines and Geology department, according to an order issued the Mines department on Thursday following Supreme Court directives.

The directives stated that the leases of minor mineral including their renewal for an area of less than five hectares be granted by the States/Union Territories only after getting environmental clearance from the MoEF. The order was passed on February 27, in a petition filed by one Deepak Kumar and other v/s state of Haryana.

New Delhi The Supreme Court has directed the Orissa government to recommend the case for grant of iron ore reserves to the central government for the Bhushan Power & Steel’s 2.8 million tonne-integrated steel plant at Lapanga, Orissa.

Setting aside the Orissa High Court judgment that refused to interfere with the state government’s decision asking Bhushan Power & Steel (erstwhile Bhushan) to sign a fresh MoU,

Coalmin rejects proposal saying there is no such precedence. The coal ministry has rejected Reliance Power's proposal to mortgage the mining lease of two blocks attached to the Sasan ultra mega power project (UMPP) to provide security to lenders, on the grounds that there is no precedence and the request for mortgage should come from the state government.

PANJIM: In a major violation, one-third of operational mining leases in Goa are operated by raising contractors, many of whom are politicians.

Goa Foundation, in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed before Bombay High Court at Goa has pointed out that over 30 operational mining leases in Goa are operated by persons or companies other than the lessee.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has refuted charges that he had sanctioned mining leases as chief minister of Karnataka and pointed to the inquiry on mining by the then Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde, which had not indicted him anywhere, to underline his non-involvement.

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has issued show-cause notices to three mining lease holders on charges of violation of Mineral Concession Rules. Show-cause notices have been issued to Indrani Patnaik, KJS Ahaluwallia and TP Sao for illegally sub-leasing mines allotted to them which is a violation of Rule 37 of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960, Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty said.

With allegations of illegal sub-lease of mines to private parties by lease holders pouring in, Orissa Government has launched an operation to detect such “frauds,” official sources said.

“We have set up a committee comprising government officials and chartered accountants to verify violation of Rule 37,” the Steel and Mines Minister, Mr Raghunath Mohanty, said.

Giving sub-lease illegally to private parties amounted to violation of Rule 37 under the Mineral Concession Rules 1960.

BHUBANESWAR: With allegations of rampant illegal sub-lease of mines to private parties by lease-holders, the State Government has launched an operation to detect such irregularities.
The Government has set up a committee, comprising government officials and chartered accountants, to verify violation of Rule 37. Giving sub-lease illegally to private parties amounted to violation of Rule 37 under the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960.

Official sources said the committee had so far raided and verified eight mines in two phases. Other mines would also be scrutinised in phases.