The Odisha Government will recover the price of minerals raised “without lawful authority” from mines that made production in excess of the approved limit, official sources said today.

A direction in this regard was issued to all the district collectors and director of mines by the Steel and Mines Department, they said.

The Government has identified as many as 104 mines which have raised ore in excess of the quantity approved by IBM (Indian Bureau of Mines) in the mining plan during the period of 10 years.

“You are requested to instruct the deputy directors of mines, mining officers in-charge of the mining circles to raise demands against mines that made production in excess of the approved limit,” the Steel and Mines Secretary, Mr D.K. Singh, has written to the Director of mines, sources said.

The move came based on the recommendation of the verification committee that inspected activities of mines in different parts of the state.

The committee was set up for verification of excess production of minerals such as iron, manganese, chromite, bauxite and limestone during the last 10 years vis-a-vis the quantity approved in the mining plan under Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988.

It was also to examine whether they were in line with statutory clearance issued under the provision of Environment (protection) Act, 1986 and consent to operate under Water (prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Air (prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1981.

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