JOIN USCEC favours cancellation of 20 iron ore mine leases in state
The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended action against 20 iron ore mining leases in Karnataka for their lapses in implementing reclamation and rehabilitation (R and R) work.
The CEC, in its report submitted to the court after inspecting R and R activities being executed by ‘B’ category mines in Ballari district, said, of the 20 mines, four lease holders failed to supply baseline data and other relevant material to prepare R and R plan. The state government can implement the R and R plans after treating these leases as lapsed, the report said.
“Despite the R and R plan being ready, the remaining 16 lease holders neither deposited the money nor it has been recovered from them. The lessees may be directed to deposit the due amount within 30 days from the date of the order, failing which the government may take appropriate action for treating the leases as lapsed,” said the report.
The panel suggested that Karnataka, Telangana and Surveyor General of India may be directed to file a report on the action taken for determination of inter-state boundary within the Ballari reserve forest.
Earlier, the court, which cancelled leases of all ‘C’ category mines, had directed the CEC to implement the R and R plan for 62 ‘B’ category mines which committed less violation while extracting ore.
Of the 62 mines, Dehradun-based Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education prepared R and R plan for 58 mines and four leases holders failed to provide baseline data. The court had directed the companies to deposit money as specified by the CEC as a guarantee and implement the R and R with their own money. The money will be returned to the lease holders on the satisfactory execution of the R and R plan.
Only 42 mines of the 58 lease holders have deposited Rs 103.12 crore as guarantee money with the CEC and started implementing the R and R plan.
The Federation of Indian Mineral Industries had filed an interim petition before the Supreme Court, seeking return of the guarantee money to lease holders. Following this, the court asked the CEC to submit the status report on the implementation of R and R plan.
Lease holders who did not provide baseline data:
V Venkatesulu, Raghavendra Rao (Jantakal Enterprises Limited), Ganapathi Minerals, Bharat Ores and Chemicals.
16 lease holders who failed to deposit guarantee money: V Susheelamma (Doddabyaladakere), M Upendran, B R Dayanath Singh (Kamalabai), N Shaik Sab, K Brahmananda, K R Kaviraaj (Kalahalli), Gadagi Minerals Mining Company, Sannakitadahalli Iron and Manganese Ore Mine of Canara Minerals, Hanuman Iron Ore Mines, Santhalakshmi Jayaram, K N Srinivasa, Kumaraswamy Mining Company, Marwa Mining Company (Jiginahalli), T V Channabasetappa and Brothers, Rameshwara Manganese and Iron Ore Pvt Ltd, J M Vrushabendraiah.