The authorities halted mining operations at Lajkura open caste mine and at the coal mines owned by Coal India’s subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields (MCL) in the Orient group area at Ib-valley Coal fields in Jharsuguda district, Odisha.
The suspended six mines were producing about 3% of MCL’s daily output of 300,000 tons, according to Reuters.
Odisha mines director Deepak Kumar Mohanty was quoted by the news agency as saying that the mines do not have forest clearances.
"The mines will remain shut until they get the approval," Mohanty added.
MCL technical and project director AK Singh said, "We have already submitted the application and completed all the formalities."
Coal India is expected to provide about 470 million tons of coal in the current fiscal year.
