State fails to submit quarterly reports

BHUBANESWAR: Even as a large number of applications is pending for renewal of mining lease, the Ministry of Mines has expressed its displeasure over the State Government’s failure to submit quarterly report on disposal of various applications under the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act and the Mineral Concession Rules.Although each of the mineral- bearing states is required to submit quarterly status reports on disposal of applications for mineral concession, renewal of concession and mining lease, and execution of mining lease and licences, the State Government has submitted only a single report since 2009. This is despite two reminders from the Ministry of Mines. The last reminder came from the Union Secretary of Mines to the Chief Secretary on March 16.Taking exception to the deemed extension provision, the Union Secretary said in majority cases the lease-holders are operating the mines without renewal as the State Government has failed to dispose of their renewal applications in time. Asking the State Government to adhere to the time frame, the Union Secretary said applications for reconnaissance permit (RP) should be disposed of in six months, prospecting licence (PL) in nine months and mining lease in 12 months.Once a lease-holder applies for renewal, the onus lies on the Government to complete the process in time, he said.He further informed the State Government that the Ministry is in the process of developing a software for online submission of quarterly reports.The State Government came under Opposition fire on the contentious issue of ‘deemed’ provision during discussion on the multi-crore mining scam in the Assembly.Opposition members accused the Government of promoting illegal mining activities by deliberately delaying the renewal of licence.Official sources, however, said the Mines Department has taken measures for timely renewal of mining lease.Out of a total 596 mines in the State, 245 mines are in operation while the remaining are not in operation. The Government has suspended mining activities in 103 cases.The Department has taken e-governance initiative under which the lease-holders and people having trading licence have been given ID number to know the status of their applications online, the sources said.