 "Post Uliburu scam, state renews crackdown on Arjun Ladha")
Stung by the massive loot of iron ore from Uliburu mines, the state steel & mines department has trained its guns on Arjun Ladha, a key culprit in the multi-million crore mining scam.
The department has sought report from its mines directorate on steps taken to recover cost of excess iron ore and manganese raised unlawfully by the lessee from its Haromoto mines in Keonjhar district.
Between 1996 and 2009, the mine lessee produced 611,828 tonne of iron ore and 19,918.52 tonne of manganese in excess of the approved quantum which the department said violates Section 21 (5) of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) MMDR Act-1957.
The department has also asked the director (mines) to submit a detailed report, indicating the names of officials responsible for allowing Arjun Ladha to continue mining operations beyond leasehold area spread over 326.50 hectares (ha).
“The cost of excess ore extracted from the Arjun Ladha mines is yet to be assessed. But is not yet established if mining was carried beyond the lease limits,” said director of mines Deepak Mohanty.
Apart from the directorate of mines, the steel & mines department has urged the superintendent of police (vigilance) to conduct further investigation in the Arjun Ladha case and furnish a report.
Earlier, the State Vigilance had carried out a prolonged enquiry into the Arjun Ladha case.
The steel & mines department had passed order for termination of the mining lease on February 15, 2011 under Rule 27 (5) of Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960. Later, the lessee had contested the government order in the revision authority on April 26, 2011. Thereafter, the state government had moved the Odisha High Court where the case is still pending. In its order, the state government said, the lessee had violated Rule 27 (1) of MCR by not keeping accurate and faithful accounts showing the quantity and other particulars of all minerals obtained and despatched from the mines. It was found during field inspection, over dumping had been done by the lessee over the lease boundary line in the southern side of the mine lease area.
Besides, Arjun Ladha had violated the conditions of the lease agreement under Rule 27 of MCR by carrying out illegal mining beyond its lease hold area. The state government had also held the lessee guilty of violating Section 2 of Forest Conservation Act-1980 by expanding the broken up area inside the Karo reserve forest area from 19.05 hectares in 1996 to 48.77 hectares in 2004 and to 59.11 hectares in 2009.
The state government had recently taken control of Uliburu iron ore mines originally held by B K Mohanty in Joda sector amid allegations of illegal excavation and sale of iron ore valued at Rs 1,800 crore.
The department has sought report from its mines directorate on steps taken to recover cost of excess iron ore and manganese raised unlawfully by the lessee from its Haromoto mines in Keonjhar district.
Between 1996 and 2009, the mine lessee produced 611,828 tonne of iron ore and 19,918.52 tonne of manganese in excess of the approved quantum which the department said violates Section 21 (5) of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) MMDR Act-1957.
The department has also asked the director (mines) to submit a detailed report, indicating the names of officials responsible for allowing Arjun Ladha to continue mining operations beyond leasehold area spread over 326.50 hectares (ha).
“The cost of excess ore extracted from the Arjun Ladha mines is yet to be assessed. But is not yet established if mining was carried beyond the lease limits,” said director of mines Deepak Mohanty.
Apart from the directorate of mines, the steel & mines department has urged the superintendent of police (vigilance) to conduct further investigation in the Arjun Ladha case and furnish a report.
Earlier, the State Vigilance had carried out a prolonged enquiry into the Arjun Ladha case.
The steel & mines department had passed order for termination of the mining lease on February 15, 2011 under Rule 27 (5) of Mineral Concession Rules (MCR)-1960. Later, the lessee had contested the government order in the revision authority on April 26, 2011. Thereafter, the state government had moved the Odisha High Court where the case is still pending. In its order, the state government said, the lessee had violated Rule 27 (1) of MCR by not keeping accurate and faithful accounts showing the quantity and other particulars of all minerals obtained and despatched from the mines. It was found during field inspection, over dumping had been done by the lessee over the lease boundary line in the southern side of the mine lease area.
Besides, Arjun Ladha had violated the conditions of the lease agreement under Rule 27 of MCR by carrying out illegal mining beyond its lease hold area. The state government had also held the lessee guilty of violating Section 2 of Forest Conservation Act-1980 by expanding the broken up area inside the Karo reserve forest area from 19.05 hectares in 1996 to 48.77 hectares in 2004 and to 59.11 hectares in 2009.
The state government had recently taken control of Uliburu iron ore mines originally held by B K Mohanty in Joda sector amid allegations of illegal excavation and sale of iron ore valued at Rs 1,800 crore.