Bhubaneswar: The State Government would auction 16 mines, including 10 iron ore mines, by the end of March 2019. This was informed by the Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick on Tuesday.
Mallick said, “We have written a letter to the Centre seeking its permission for auction of 16 mines. Once we get the approval, we will auction the mines by March-end, 2019.” On December 1, the State Government had cancelled the leases of six mines as the leaseholders failed to pay the penalty imposed on them for excess mining.
The Minister further said that while 31 mining companies have not paid the penalty, 25 of them have been granted stay order by the Revisional Authority.
The leases of rest six mines, which have not got the stay order, have been cancelled due to non-payment of compensation. These mines have been restricted from carrying out mining operations. The district Collectors have been asked to initiate certificate cases against the leaseholders and collect the fine amount, Mallick added.
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