'Tardy' pace of mining due recovery irks SC

The Supreme Court Wednesday expressed ‘utter displeasure’ at the mode and manner in which the Odisha government has been proceeding for recovery of dues from the defaulting lessees which had violated the mining norms.

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih told the counsel appearing for Odisha that it is for the state to ensure that the government revenue is not evaded.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for the petitioner on whose plea the apex court had earlier passed several orders in the matter concerning illegal mining.

Bhushan said the issue relates to recovery of dues, which runs into crores of rupees, from mining firms and the top court had passed several orders asking the state to recover the money.

He said Odisha has recently filed a status report which revealed that ‘effectively they are just dillydallying’.

“What are the steps you are taking?” the bench asked the state’s advocate general.