"We have stocked sufficient bauxite to run the refinery for at least three weeks. During the period, the company is confident of geting TWP to operate the bauxite mines at Panchapatmali hills, the mining lease of which lapsed on November 16. The company hopes to resume mines operation by first week of December," Nalco CMD Ansuman Das told reporters.
Nalco, which was allocated 4,692 hectare of bauxite reserve at Panchapatmali hills 30 years ago, meanwhile have applied for the TWP after renewal of its mining lease was delyed due to different factors.
Though the Nalco had applied for the renewal of its mining lease on October 2010, the process could not be completed by November 16, 2012.
The situation led to halt of mining operation at the north and central blocks of Panchpatmali hills, the Nalco CMD said, adding that he was confident that the company would get the TWP on November 27.
"The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the MoEF is meeting on November 26 which is expected to approve the forest clearance required for issuance of the TWP," Das said.
The Nalco CMD said the Union Environment and Forest Minister Jayanti Natrajan has taken up the matter and issued suitable instructions in this regard. (MORE)