Joda: The state government is learnt to have cancelled the lease of six mining firms under Joda mining circle in Keonjhar as they had defaulted the penalty imposed on them as per the Supreme Court directive in connection with the multi-crore mining scam.
The mining firms whose leases were scrapped included Arjun Lodha’s iron and manganese mines at Balagoda, BD Pattnaik’s iron ore mines at Kalaparbat, Bhanja Minerals’ iron and manganese mines at Ingajharan, HG Pandya’s iron and manganese mines, MR Das’ iron mine at Deojhar and Mineral Trading Syndicate’s mine at Bholabeda.
Arjun Lodha was fined over Rs 63.42 crore on lease area of 326.05 hectare at Balagoda; BD Pattnaik was fined Rs 8.35 crore for lease area of 25.633 hectares at Kalaparbat; Bhanj Minerals’with over Rs 73. 9 crore for lease area of 246.313 hectares at Ingajharan; HG Pandya with over Rs 86.41 crore for lease area of 100.173 hectares; MR Das with over Rs 2.90 crore for lease area of 11.537 hectares at Deojhar and Mineral Trading Syndicate with over Rs.5.97 crore for lease area of 62.322 hectares at Bholabeda.
The state government had initiated the process of cancelling the lease of nearly 45 defaulting mines operators in July. These cases would be dealt with in a phased manner, the sources added.
However, no questions were raised about who will be responsible for mineral theft in these mines.
Mining officer Prashant Panda said as long as the mining firms have not surrendered their mines to the government, they will be responsible for the theft.
Recently, according to reports, minerals were plundered from Arjun Lodha mines. The Enforcement Squad had investigated the matter. Police had seized a truck and some persons in this connection.
PNN