'Expert ministry dealing with the environment,' says SC; seeks MoEFCC views on capping iron mining in Odisha

The Supreme Court perused the affidavit of the Union Ministry of Mines filed in response to its earlier query whether any cap can be put on mining in Odisha keeping in mind the limited iron ore reserves there. A three-Judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud pointed out that it does not have the view of the Environment Ministry. Reports ETV Bharat's Sumit Saxena

New Delhi:The Supreme Court Monday asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to bring on record its view on whether there could be a capping on iron ore mining in Odisha, saying that ministry is an expert body to inform the court about its impact on the environment and the concept of intergenerational equity.

A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked was MoEFCC consulted by the Ministry of Mines? Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati said the Ministry of Mines has filed an affidavit.

"After our order…..The Ministry of Mines has examined the matter in the light of the quantum of iron ore resources in the country... And, on the basis of which capping was imposed in Karnataka and Goa. And, whether in the present situation Odisha requires a capping? It can be only that the Ministry of Mines looks at it. The MoEFCC has to apply its mind and tell…that is the expert ministry dealing with the environment…they don’t say they have consulted MoEFCC”, said the CJI.

The apex court perused the affidavit of the Union Ministry of Mines filed in response to its earlier query whether any cap can be put on mining in Odisha keeping in mind the limited iron ore reserves there. The bench pointed out that it does not have the view of the Environment Ministry.

Bhati said current per capita consumption of India is 158 kgs, whereas the current global average is 208 kgs, and drew the court's attention to zero waste mining. The bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said that MoEFCC will have to independently examine the matter and sought senior advocate ADN Rao's views.

Rao, amicus curaie in the matter, said in Karnataka and Goa, the CEC had examined it and then your lordships imposed a cap, and they have not referred to inter-generational equity.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing the Odisha government, opposed Rao's view and argued that the affidavit clearly points out while the consumption has grown at the same time the availability of the resources has also grown. "71% of the OGP (obvious geological potential) area that is the area where prospecting is done….it (iron ore) is known that it is available there but it is not being mined….that is still available. That is intergenerational equity….”, said Dwivedi.

Dwivedi said that iron ore leads to production of steel, which is important for defence and all industries, and stressed that steel is the backbone. He insisted that any curtailment would mean that the future will suffer and intergenerational equity should not be looked at from the point of view of a particular resource only.

A counsel for the petitioner Common Cause, an NGO, said the iron ore is set to be exhausted in 25 years keeping in mind the present pace of mining and insisted for the court's direction on capping on iron ore.

The apex court said, “We want the view of the MoEFCC. This ministry is the expert body and it can tell us about the impact of the iron ore mining on the environment and the concept of intergenerational equity”.

Bhati said, "if your lordships wish to have a separate affidavit from Environment Ministry, we will place it on record….direction was to Union of India to file an affidavit, so Ministry of Mines has filed it, and if your lordships wish to have environment ministry (affidavit), we will file it”

Meanwhile, the apex court also directed the Odisha government to file a fresh affidavit in four weeks giving details of recoveries of dues from defaulter mining firms, which were held guilty of violating norms, from the last order passed on August 14. The apex court also asked the state government to provide the details of properties of mining firms which were attached for recovering the dues.

The apex court, in order passed on August 14, 2023, had said:"The Union of India shall consider the position and decide whether a cap on mining is necessitated in the case of State of Odisha and, if so, the modalities to be followed for determining such a cap. In arriving at its decision, the Union of India shall also examine the basis on which a cap was imposed in the States of Karnataka and Goa. The Union of India shall file its affidavit on this aspect within a period of eight weeks".

"Mr ADN Rao, Amicus Curiae, on the other hand, has submitted that this Court may entrust the task of submitting recommendations on the capping of mining to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). This aspect shall be examined after the response is filed by the Union of India," said the court's order.

In August, the Odisha government had informed the court that this year that the state government recovered a substantial amount in fines from the defaulting mining firms but Rs 2,622 crore was yet to be collected from them.