The Odisha State Pollution Control Board vide its notification dated 21st January 2021 has issued additional guidelines regarding Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate under the provisions of Water (PCP) Act, 1974 and Air (PCP) Act, 1981, for mining operations by the successful bidders to whom the CTE and CTO have been vested by the competent authorities.
Key Highlights from the guidelines.
The Consent to operate application filed beyond 120 days from the date of execution of lease deed may be processed within the validity period of vesting order. However, the concemed lessees shall apply and obtain CTO immediately in order to avoid stoppage of mining operation after expiry of the vesting order.
The quantity of production shall be determined on monthly pro-rata basis from the effective date of issue of the vesting order. If the date of issue is before 15th of the month, then the entire month will be considered for calculation, otherwise the quantity shall be determined from the next month on pro-rata basis.
Until the vesting order is issued and a new lease deed is executed, the application for Consent to Operate (CTO) shall be treated as incomplete.
Further, the consent fees for the year of commencement shall be determined on the basis of quantity of production from the effective date of vesting order till the end of the financial year on a monthly pro-rata basis or the leasehold area, whichever is higher.
