Odisha extends lease period of 56 mines, collects 1388 cr revenue

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha government has extended the lease period of 56 mines under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick told the state assembly.

Replying to a question, Mallick said lease periods of 56 mines had been extended, and two of these leases have been renewed through an express order.

He said the state government collected revenue of about Rs 1388 crore as registration fee and stamp duty from these mines during the signing of supplementary lease deeds.

The recommendation for reopening of these mines was made by an inter-departmental committee headed by the development commissioner.

The state government extended the lease period following the guidelines of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015.

According to the amended Act, all leases awaiting renewal are automatically allowed to operate till 2020 in the case of merchant mines and up to 2030 for captive mines.

However, the extension of the leases came with a rider as the Odisha government has put some conditions in extending the lease period of the mines.

All such lessees will have to comply with the Supreme Court order to be pronounced in the final disposal of the cases relating to these mines as well as pending orders on recommendations of the M.B. Shah commission of inquiry and the central empowered committee (CEC) on illegal mining in the state, sources said.