Indicating that the final report on the status of mining in Odisha would be submitted in the last week of July, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) today asked the state government to examine prima facie evidence against four more mines for violation of Rule 37 under the Mineral Concession Rules-1960.
"Though the state government had earlier found eight lessees violating Rule 37 under MC Rules, the CEC today asked it to examine the cases of four more mines," Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty said after attending a meeting of the CEC members and mines lease holders here.
Six of the eight miners have already challenged the state government's charges and moved the revision authority under the Union mines ministry against the Odisha government.
Asked whether the CEC issued the order based on the recommendations of the M B Shah panel, Mohanty said, "CEC has nothing to do with the the Shah panel though they may consider some of the cases mentioned in the report."
Appointed by the Supreme Court, the CEC is undertaking an independent assessment of status of mining activities in the state.
During its two-day visit to the state which began yesterday, the CEC team comprising M K Jiwrajka and M M Vyas interacted with some mines lease holders, particularly with the 26 lessees whose mines have been issued temporary closure notice basing on a Supreme Court order.
