Illegal mining: Keonjhar district admin to attach property of two miners

Keonjhar: Acting tough against the erring mine lease holders who have failed to pay penalty for alleged illegal mining in Keonjhar district, the district Collectorate today issued orders to confiscate movable and immovable property of two miners.

Hearing a certified case, district collector Asish Thakre directed police and local Tehsildar to attach the property of two miners MR Das and Arjun Lodha within a month.

“As per the verdict of the Supreme Court, an order has been issued by the Collector’s court to confiscate the property of two mine leaseholders,” said Thakre.

As per reports, the district administration had earlier asked seven mine leaseholders to appear before it in connection with charges of illegal mining. Following the directive, one BD Pattnaik appeared before the district magistrate and deposited Rs 2.20 crore with an undertaking to give the rest of the fine within 15 days.

Another mine leaseholder, Mineral Trading Syndicate has deposited 1 lakh before the Collector. Rest of the miners was given seven days to deposit the fine for illegal mining.

In a landmark verdict in 2017, the Supreme Court of India had asked mining companies in the State, who had been extracting iron and manganese ore beyond the limits approved under environment clearance, to pay Rs 17,576.17 crore as compensation to the State government.