Odisha mining scam; CEC completes hearing of 60 lessees

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

New Delhi, Aug 12:

The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on the mining scam in Odisha completed hearing of 60 out of the 100 mining lessees by this evening. The CEC’s hearing of iron ore and manganese mining lessees is likely to extend till midnight today, sources said.

During the day-long hearing, the CEC examined arguments on issues like illegal mining, excess mining vis-à-vis requirement, violation of forest and environmental laws, violation of rule 37 of the MMDR Act and mineral extraction after lapse of lease period presented by both the state government and mining lessees.

The hearing was being conducted by the three members of the CEC, including its chairman P V Jayakrishnan. Officials of the state government’s Mines and Forest & Environment departments and Odisha State Pollution Control Board were present during the hearing.

The CEC had asked 187 mine leaseholders to come to Delhi for hearing of their complaints and grievances.

The CEC will submit its final report to the Supreme Court after completing its final hearing.