The NMDC operates mining activities in the Bailadila hills, encompassing the Kirandul village under the Bacheli tehsil of Dantewada. Dantewada collector Mayank Chaturvedi directed the NMDC to deposit the penalty within 15 days, as per a letter dated August 29, Press Trust of India reported. The collector stated that the NMDC’s clarifications in response to the show cause notices issued by the district administration were unsatisfactory.
According to the letter, the NMDC violated Chhattisgarh mining excavation, transportation and storage rules. NMDC has contested this penalty. The NMDC, in a statement, claimed the Dantewada collector proposed to levy penalty and compensation to the tune of Rs 1,620.5 crore for alleged transport of iron ore without a railway transit pass (RTP), and thereby alleging contravention of the various provisions of different mining laws.
“It is respectfully submitted that the levy of compensation and penalty by way of impugned notice for demand of penalty and compensation solely and blindly without considering the facts and circumstances in the present case is completely inappropriate,” the NMDC stated.
The NMDC added that it has been conducting its operations under a valid mining lease, with approvals that include a mining plan, CTO (consent to operate), CTE (consent to establish), and environmental and forest clearances from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
It was also highlighted that the state government reviews these documents every six months and has not raised any objections so far, indicating compliance with the regulations.The NMDC further noted that the finalization of the iron ore grade sometimes requires time, resulting in a delay in Railway Transit Pass generation by two to three days. However, this delay does not cause any financial loss to the state exchequer.“The NMDC will submit a suitable reply to the district collector,” the company stated.
