Ranchi, Sep 29 (IANS) Opposition parties in Jharkhand Thursday slammed the state cabinet’s decision to allow sale of iron ore fines from captive mines to other states.
Iron ore fines are created following crushing and processing of iron ore.
The Jharkhand cabinet Wednesday reaffirmed its August decision to allow companies to sell iron ore fines up to the size of 10 mm from captive mines.
The government argued that the decision to allow sale of iron fines was taken to prevent pollution.
Chief Minister Arjun Munda had announced Sep 2 during the just-concluded monsoon session of the assembly that the cabinet decision allowing companies to sell iron fines to other states would be reviewed.
Munda’s announcement followed opposition parties’ protests in the assembly, forcing the government to put on hold its decision to allow sale of iron ore fines.
Pradeep Yadav, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik legislature party leader, told IANS: ‘We demand a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into allowing companies to sell iron ore fines. The decision has been taken to benefit companies.’
Congress legislator K.N. Tripathy told IANS: ‘We have filed a PIL (public interest litigation) in the Jharkhand High Court seeking ban on the sale of iron ore fines.’
Both the legislators said the sale of iron ore fines would cause a loss up to Rs.10,000 crore per annum to the state.
