Centre to quicken pending statutory clearances for Odisha mines.

The central mines ministry has assured to take steps for expediting forest and environment clearances for mines in Odisha.

'We raised the issue of pending forest and environment clearances for mines in Odisha. The Union minister has assured that steps will be taken to expedite the clearances,' said state steel & mines minister Prafulla Mallick.

Union minister for steel, mines and labour & employment Narendra Singh Tomar recently called on chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Scores of mines in the state, mainly iron ore and manganese ore leases, are out of operations due to pending statutory clearances. Out of 600 leases, only 102 mines are currently operational. The state government has supsended 262 mines while operations of 142 mines have been temporarily discontinued. Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) in an interim order in May had called for suspending operations of 26 mines in Odisha that were awaiting second and subsequent renewal of leases. The top court held that operations of such mines were illegal unless the state government passed express orders.

BS