CUTTACK | May 14, 2015: The Odisha high court on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre and state government for allegedly failing to collect net present value (NPV) of Rs 715 crore towards diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes from 111 mining agencies.

The division bench of acting Chief Justice Pradeep Mohanty and Justice Biswajit Mohanty directed the Union ministry of environment and forests, chief secretary of Odisha and state's industries and forest and environment departments to file reply to our allegations," said petitioner's counsel Sidhartha Prasad Das.

The NPV is the amount mining lease agencies need to deposit, according to a Supreme Court order in 2002, for diversion of forest land for non-forest use. It includes cost of the land along with tangible and intangible benefits of forest area and is charged at Rs 5.8 lakh to Rs 9.2 lakh a hectare depending on the type and density of diverted forest land.

The direction came in response to the PIL filed by Subash Mohapatra, a human rights campaigner, alleging that NPV to the tune of Rs 715 crore has been pending against 111 mine owners since 2010, but the government is doing little to recover the amount.

"It is essential to take vigorous and proactive steps for realisation of unpaid amount along with interest," stated the petitioner, adding, "Due to non-realisation of NPV, the state exchequer has sustained huge losses."

The petitioner stated that in December 2014 he moved the state government to take immediate steps for recovery of the amount from mine owners. When he did not receive any response, he moved the high seeking its intervention.

The petitioner alleged that CAG in its report last year had also pulled up the state government for non-realisation of NPV.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)