Illegal Mining: Govt starts process to confiscate property of illegal miners

Bhubaneswar: Odisha on Saturday started the process to attach property of mine owners, who have not paid penalty for illegal mining activities in different parts of the state.

In the first phase, the mining lessees in Keonjhar will appear before Collector's court to present their side today.

Sources said the government has now toughened its stand and is gearing up for action against the defaulters by confiscating property under the Odisha Public Demands Recovery (OPDR) Act.

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Cases were earlier registered against 23 lessees of 31 mines in Keonjhar district and Rs 6,300 crore due for recovery. The defaulters include--Urumunda Mines, GSI Pvt Ltd, BK Mohanty, BPMI, HG Pandya, Mala Ray and others, SD Sharma and Sharada Mines.

All the mining lessees have been asked to present their side as to why their properties would not be confiscated. The next hearing is likely to conducted on August 4 and 18 respectively, sources said.