The state government has barred 27 firms from selling iron ore outside India due to cancellation and expiry of their licenses and has instructed the port officials not to allow these firms to store iron ore fines in their stockyards.
“Storing of iron ore fines without valid license is illegal as per the Rule sub section 4 of section 21 of the act and rules of O. M. Rules 2007. You are therefore requested not to allow them (the restricted firms) to procure or shipment of iron ore fines from your Paradeep port until further orders”, a recent notice sent from the office of Deputy Director of Mines (DDM), Jajput circle to Paradeep port said.
The notice was also forwarded to DDMs of other mining circles and mining officers of the state.
The list of the firms, whose export licenses has been canceled or expired include F Serajuddin and Exports, Gimpex, Idcol, Mesco, Orissa Stevedores Ltd, Patnaik Minerals and Yazdani International.
The state government has been in a tizzy over the arrival of national level illegal mining investigative agency M B Shah Commission on Wednesday and had taken a series of measures in November including complete closure of transport of mineral for exports purposes.
Industry officials said the state government has informally ordered the mine officers not to issue transit pass (TP) for trucks to carry iron ore for export purpose in order to display its intention to discourage exports.
According to trade and export broker estimates, November iron ore export through Paradip port could be around 200,000 tonnes, much lower than close to 6,00,000 tonnes exports between April and October this year.
It may be noted that the Orissa government has demanded for complete ban on iron ore exports to ensure better availability of ore to the local steel industries.
