New Delhi, Jan 16 (PTI) Mines Minister Narendra SinghTomar today asked operating mining companies in Odisha toincrease output within permissible ceilings to ensure suppliesto steel companies in the wake of closure of six mines in thestate, the government said today.
"Union Minister of Mines Narendra Singh Tomar today metmining companies from Odisha to review the production of ironore, subsequent to the closure of six mines in Odisha," theMinistry of Mines said in a statement.
The statement said it was noted that some miners stillhave a headroom to increase production within theirpermissible environment clearance and other limits.
"The minister requested the miners to follow the SupremeCourt orders on mining and endeavour to increase theirproduction to the maximum possible within their permissibleceilings," the statement said.
Though the production in January is expected to be lower,the operating miners assured that they shall step upproduction so that the steel industry remains fully supplied,it said.
The minister exhorted the miners to increase productionand assured them that the Ministry will facilitate inenhancing production and miners were free to approach theMinistry with specific problems which they may encounter, itadded.
The Odisha government earlier this month has suspendedoperations in six mines that failed to pay penalties byDecember 31 for overproduction and illegal activities.
The Supreme Court had on August 2 last year imposed apenalty on 152 iron ore and manganese lessees in the state forillegal mining. These mines were found to have conductedoperations without forest and environment clearances,sometimes beyond the permitted area, between 2000 and 2011.
The state had a target of collecting Rs 17,576 crore aspenalty by the end of 2017 but could accrue only Rs 8,223crore, as per Odisha's Steel and Mines minister PrafullaMallick. PTI NAMMKJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.