Ranchi, June 29: Eight of 21 non-captive iron ore mine lessees in West Singhbhum, showcaused by the state for alleged violation of rules, have replied to the notices till today, two days before an extended deadline of July 1.
The state mines department, which issued showcauses to the 21 mines on June 15 for a range of violations including pending lease renewals to bad maintenance to unpaid royalty dues, had given them time till June 30 to explain themselves.
But the state government extended the deadline by a day, keeping in mind Santhal Hul Diwas, which falls tomorrow.
State mines director S.P. Negi said the 21 mines had been showcaused in the wake of recent changes in the Mines & Mineral Development & Regulation (MMDR) Act.
Non-captive mining firms in the showcause list include Devka Bhai Bhelji, Rameshwar Jute Mill, Padam Kumar Jain, KL Thakkar, Shah Brothers, Kamaljeet Singh Ahluwalia, Anil Khirwal, NKPK, Revati Raman Prasad, Singhbhum Minerals, Shree Ram Minerals, among others.
"MMDR Act Section 8 (A) 6 suggests renewal of non-captive mines up to the year 2020 but subject to certain terms and conditions. But, most non-captive iron ore miners in West Singhbhum are violating rules," Negi said, referring to a report received from A.B. Siddique, West Singhbhum DC.
Allegedly, violations cover the gamut of unsafe procedures such as badly maintained boundary pillars, pits and shafts not being maintained at all in leasehold areas, non-operative mines kept open and mining areas not levelled. Scientific mining is allegedly absent in most places.
Like captive mines (Tata, SAIL and other biggies), second and subsequent renewals of leases were pending for these non-captive mines too. Before September 2014, when the state put a stay on mining operations in areas where leases were pending, many lessees mined under the garb of deemed extensions, called illegal by the Supreme Court.
Also, in many cases, leases are unofficially transferred, royalty/surface rent dues are unpaid and actual mining operations disregard the submitted plans.
Negi told The Telegraph they received eight "exhaustive replies", including from Padam Kumar Jain, Shah Brothers and NKPK.
"We will judge the merit of leases on a per-case basis based on scrutiny of their replies," he added.
But, a state source said there was "much pressure from various quarters not to cancel leases". At the same time, the state is of the view that mining areas beyond captive leases like Tatas, SAIL and others should be referred for open auction, something that the Centre endorses.
Taking no chances on a matter with big stakes, the mines department has done legwork to equip itself to judge each case.
A committee chaired by the development commissioner, with members including forest, mines and law secretaries, PCCF (nodal) and PCCF (wildlife) officials, was notified by the state cabinet co-ordination department on June 9. The panel held its first meeting on June 23 wherein authorities decided to form a sub-committee, which will physically verify the mines concerned to help the committee take its final decision on leases.
