Cuttack, Jan. 10: Orissa government is apparently still in the dark about the field status of all mining leases related to major minerals. It is unaware as to whether the actual mining was being carried out by lessee himself or through contractor or any other agency.

In fact, the state government still doesn’t have a consolidated report on all working leases related to mining operations. An official communication attached as an annexure to the counter affidavit submitted by the state government in Orissa High Court reveals that the steel and mines department had initiated efforts for getting a report less than two months ago. On November 18, 2010, the under secretary in the steel and mines department had sent a letter to the director of mines seeking a consolidated report on all working leases related to carrying out of mining operations within 15 days.

As “no such report was received in the department” the commissioner-cum-secretary Manoj Ahuja followed up with a letter to the director of mines on December 21, 2010, for submission of the report within a month.

“Needless to say, a detailed inquiry will have to be made in all such cases in which the lessee may not be carrying out operations on his own,” Ahuja said in the letter while directing that it be ascertained whether the actual mining was being carried out by the lessee himself or through a contractor or any other agency. If mining was being done through the contractor or agency, the details of the agreement and financial arrangements along with other details related to power of attorney holder were to be ascertained while preparing the report, Ahuja said.

“All the deputy directors of mines / mining officers of all circles are directed to verify all the working mines and satisfy themselves that the lessee is not violating any provision of Section 37 of Mineral Concession Rules (MCR), 1960. In case there appears to be a violation, the same should be brought to the notice of the director of mines for necessary action as per law....

“In any case, a consolidated report on all working leases, regarding adherence to or violation of Section 37 of MCR,1960, as the case may be, should be submitted to the director of mines with a copy to the department of steel and mines within 30 days of receipt of this letter,” the commissioner-cum-secretary said in the letter, copies of which were sent to all deputy directors mining, mining officers and collectors.