Bhubaneswar, Jan. 30 -- Trouble has intensified for underperforming mining leaseholders. In cases where leaseholders fail to extract the minimum quantity of minerals as stipulated in their lease conditions, the government will now step in and carry out mining operations itself.

As per the directive, the state government will extract minerals from such mines through the public sector undertaking NMDC (National Mineral Development Corporation). The entire cost incurred for this extraction will be recovered from the non-performing leaseholders concerned.

The Orissa High Court issued this direction while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Citizens Action Forum. The court observed that if leaseholders violate lease condi...