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.
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“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.
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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.
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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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