Tapal Ganesh, mine owner who fought illegal mining, has expressed surprise and shock over the monitoring committee, constituted by the Supreme Court to oversee the implementation of the Reclamation and Rehabilitation (R&R) plans by the lessees in their respective mining areas, sale of iron ore through e-auction, among other things, issuing notice to mining firms falling in category B 1 to appear before it for review of progress of the status of R&R and other statutory clearances at the Khanija Bhavan from August 24 to 27.
“I am surprised and shocked to know that the monitoring committee has served notice to mining firms, including a mining lessee falling under category B 1 to appear before it for review of R&R plans and other statutory clearances. For, the Central Empowered Committee has placed some of the mining areas on the inter-State border under category B 1 and so far, the boundaries had not been surveyed and fixed unlike in A, B and C category mining leases where R&R plans are being implemented.” he said and added that it (issuing notice to B 1 category mines) only indicated the style of functioning of the committee.
The committee, it may be mentioned, has served notice to 59 mining firms in Ballari, Chitradurga and Tumakuru districts.
Mr. Ganesh said that he would attend the progress review meeting and file objections before the committee.
