SAMBALPUR: Compensation and penalties amounting to thousands of crores imposed on various mining operators within the Sambalpur mining circle remain uncollected, as many of the contested cases are still awaiting resolution in courts.
Insights gathered through the Right to Information (RTI) Act by activist Pratik Khamari have unveiled the current status of compensation and penalty claims involving 12 mines across the Sambalpur, Bargarh, Deogarh, and Jharsuguda districts.
Documents from the mining department indicate that a total of Rs 2,981.78 crores in compensation and penalties have been demanded from these 12 mines under Section 21(5) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which governs the enforcement of compensation for unauthorized or illegal mineral extraction. Of this total, three mines have fully settled their dues, contributing around Rs 5.55 crores, while the remaining nine mines are responsible for outstanding payments totaling Rs 2,976.23 crores.
Among the nine mines with unpaid dues, eight cases are noted as sub judice in the official records, with the dues from Bhikampali Quartzite Mines specifically marked as unpaid.
The three mines that have fulfilled their financial obligations in full are Chhuinpal Quartzite Mines, managed by TRL Krosaki Refractories Ltd, which paid Rs 5.40 crore; Putka Limestone Mines, operated by J. Pramanik, which contributed Rs 10.51 lakh; and Jhankarpali Chinaclay Mines, run by P. Ghose, which paid Rs 4.30 lakh.
Some of the mines listed were granted leases several decades ago, including six operated by MCL since the 1970s and 1980s.
Khamari commented, “Local communities bear the brunt of extraction, yet the benefits of mineral wealth are not adequately reflected in their lives. While people continue to suffer, thousands of crores in dues remain unrealized, raising questions about accountability and the protection of mining-affected communities.”
Authorities have refrained from commenting on the situation, citing the pending nature of the cases. Official sources mentioned that the royalty from mines in this circle is collected by the Union government and asserted that any amendments to the MMDR Act would not impact the royalty in question.
