Ranchi-
Despite the centre’s prior approval to grant mining lease (ML) or prospecting lease (PL) to nearly two dozen companies, the ground level mining activities could not kick off in the state. Thanks to the procedural delays of the various concerned departments owing to which the companies here remains a confounded lot.
Statistics available with the department of mines shows that as many as 18 companies have been granted ML while four companies have got PL. However, the companies having the centre’s nod are unable to carry out the mining work at the respective sites in the absence of statutory clearances required from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), environment and forest, state pollution board clearance so on and so forth. Once armed with these clearances, the companies would be entitled for the lease to carry out their assigned tasks at the sites.
Interestingly, there are scores of companies that have been granted centre’s prior approval for more that two to four years back but the statutory clearances are proving the spoilsport at the ground level. “We are unable to begin work as clearances from the department concerned are awaited,” was the common refrain of the industrial representatives here.
The main functionary of the Electrosteel Company, Nirmal Kataraka, pointed out that the centre’s approval does not entitle them to begin work at the site instantly. The company has been granted centre’s approval for Kodlibad mines area in West Singhbhum for 192.30 hectares. The approval came on January 25, 2006. The state has asked the company to get the clearances from the related departments following which lease would be eventually granted for carrying out the mining work.
“It takes time to seek clearances from departments particularly environment, forest and pollution. Lots of departments are involved and all have their procedures that cannot be overlooked. Thus it takes time to begin work at the site,” Nirmal said.
Endorsing the viewpoint, the officials of the Sunflag firmly held that such clearances are taking nearly 3 to 5 years time. Consequently, the work at the ground level related to mining cannot be kicked off. “In some cases, the forest clearances are awaited for decades together, said the Sunflag official, Jagannathan Somu. Sunflag has been allotted 120 hectares at Kodlibad mines in the West Singhbum in 2006.
The official spokesperson of the Anandita Traders informed that the company has been allotted iron ore last year at Param-Baljori covering an area of 47.15 hectares. He said that normally the statutory clearances takes time of 20-24 months. “We have to give the mine plan, seek clearances from the various ministries at the centre as well as at the state level. Such process needs time,” the official said explaining that such things are normal in the day-to-day functioning.
Sanjeev Shekhar,
Media Consultant/Journalist/PR
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