Illegal mining: CEC hears 3 Odisha PSUs on first day

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar, Aug 5:

The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which began its hearing on illegal mining in Odisha in  New Delhi today, heard the contentions of public sector undertakings (PSUs) relating to 32 mines on the first day.

It heard contentions of 21 mines of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), seven mines of Steel Authority of India (SAIL) and four mines of Odisha Minerals Development Corporation Ltd (OMDC).

The CEC, headed by its chairman PV Jayakrishnan, matched the production figure of lessees with the figure given by the Odisha government. It also examined the statutory clearances, including environment clearance, of these mines and excess raising of minerals beyond the approved mining plan.

“They basically matched the updated statistical figures with the lessees. We presented our figure before the CEC. Let the CEC decide what action to be taken,” said OMC CMD Saswat Mishra.

The first phase of hearing would continue till August 8. The second phase hearing is scheduled for August 12 at which the Committee would conduct hearing of 187 leaseholders in the presence of senior officials of the Odisha government.