Mines pay Rs 8,223 as fine; non-payers mines to be closed

Odisha has collected Rs 8,223 crore as penalty from mining companies operating without necessary clearances by December 31, the government said on Monday.

Deepak Mohanty, director of mines in Odisha said of the 131 mining leaseholders who were issued notice by the government, 73 mine owners deposited their fine by December 31, 2017. "Of those 30 are non-working mines and rest 43 are working mines," he said.

"Of 46 iron mines and 8 manganese mines, 7 have not paid the full compensation amount. Their operation was stopped from today morning," he said.

Prabodh Mohanty of the Eastern Zonal Mining Association, a body of miners, said he hoped the Supreme Court would note that many mines had been closed in the past seven to eight years. "Many leaseholders are not in a position to pay the penalty. We are hopeful that SC would take a considerate view," he said.