BHUBANESWAR: The State Government’s decision to recover penalty amounting to Rs 17,576.16 crore from mining lease holders towards excess extraction of minerals has drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition with the BJP announcing that it will approach the Supreme Court to ensure recovery of 100 per cent penalty from errant companies.
The State Government had issued demand notice to mining companies for recovery of Rs 59,000 crore and the Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had computed the cost of the illegally extracted minerals at Rs 61,000 crore, State BJP general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra told reporters here on Wednesday.
While the State Government justified the downward revision of penalty, the Opposition Congress and BJP accused the ruling party of showing undue favour to mining companies which have plundered State’s mineral resources.
The BJP on Wednesday accused the State Government of showing undue favour to mining lease holders by hurriedly taking a decision to recover penalty amounting to Rs 17,576.16 crore towards excess mining of minerals when the Supreme Court has ordered for full recovery of the cost of minerals extracted in excess of mining plans, violation of statutory clearances and mining rules.
“The Tuesday decision of the high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary AP Padhi to issue demand notices to defaulting mining lease holders for recovery of Rs 17,576.16 crore has exposed the nexus between the Naveen Patnaik Government and mining companies,” said Baxipatra.
The BJP leader asked the State Government to clarify the basis on which it decided the quantum of the penalty at Rs 17,576.16 crore when the Supreme Court has ordered for recovery of 100 per cent penalty from the miners for excess mining of iron ore and manganese.
Besides, the CEC, which had calculated the notional cost of the excess minerals extracted at Rs 17,576.16 crore, has not provided the cost of the minerals produced without forest clearance (FC). The apex court has rapped the mining companies for the megabucks they have earned from rapacious mining, Baxipatra said.
Alleging that the ruling party had collected huge amount as election fund from the miners by issuing demand notices for `59,000 crore, Baxipatra said his party will take the issue to the people.
On the other hand, the Minister of State for Steel and Mines clarified that the cost computation of excess minerals was done as per the market rate prevailing then. Following objection from the miners, the amount was revised as per the rate provided by the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).
The Minister further said fresh recovery notices will be issued after determining the cost of the minerals extracted without forest clearance, mining plan and consent to operate.