Probing allegations of a multi-crore mining scandal, the Orissa government has ordered suspension of work at 64 iron ore, manganese ore and limestone mines whose operators have failed to provide proof of legal mining activity.

It is learnt that leases of all these mines ran out long ago but they continued to operate without approval, authorisation or execution of any lease deed subsequently.

Director of Mines Jyoti Ranjan Patnaik said the steel and mines department issued orders last month to deputy directors of mines to verify documents of all lease holders under deemed extension. More than 600 mines operators were issued notices and told to submit documents.

“We suspended operations of these mines as they had not submitted documents. These operators were mining the area though their leases had expired and they did not have necessary clearance from the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests,” Patnaik said.

Of the 64 mines where suspension of work has been ordered, 25 are in the Joda area of Keonjhar district. Besides, the state steel and mines department cancelled 482 of 2,412 licences for trading of ores, citing reasons of theft and smuggling.

In July this year, a mining scandal came to light in Keonjhar district after it was found that one Shakti Ranjan Das was mining manganese ore on behalf of Ram Bahadur Thakur Limited in two mines at Rudukela and Katasahi of Keonjhar district though no mining lease had been granted.

The government ordered a probe by the Vigilance department which found that the money involved ran into crores — it was estimated to be around Rs 110 crore.

... contd.