The Hindu:
BHUBANESWAR: Sunday, 08 March 2020.
RTI
plea has revealed losses of ₹60,000 crore to the State
Despite
frequent reminders, mining companies in Odisha have not paid over ₹6,000 crore
in fines to the Odisha government for illegal extraction of iron and manganese
ores between 2000-01 and 2010-11
The
State government has so far collected ₹15,326.63 crore, against the ₹21,391.85
crore imposed on the companies for violation of the Environment Protection Act,
the Forest Conservation Act, and for illegal extraction.
“While
enquiring into the multi-crore mining scam in Odisha, Justice M.B Shah Commission
has detected huge irregularities, including over exploitation of mineral and
causing environment pollution. The commission had reported a loss of ₹60,000
crore to the State exchequer for a number of violations made by mining
companies,” said Pradip Pradhan, an activist who had obtained the information
under RTI.
Mr.
Pradhan said though the Supreme Court had ordered mining companies to pay
penalty over ₹21,000 crore, defaulters were yet to deposit more than ₹6,000
crore.
As
on January 31, Sarada Mines Private Limited had not paid penalty to the tune of
₹1,938 crore, while Mideast Integrated Steel was to pay ₹924 crore, he said.
Among
some big names which were yet to comply with the Supreme Court order are BPME
Limited (₹636 crore), B.K. Mohanty (₹384 crore), Mala Roy and others (₹224
crore) and S. Pradhan (₹123 crore).
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