Tata Steel to challenge state's Rs 1,920cr demand notice for mineral dispatch 'shortfall'

Bhubaneswar: Tata Steel Limited has announced it would challenge the demand notice amounting to Rs 1,920 crore issued by the deputy director of mines for an alleged shortfall in mineral dispatch from the company's Sukinda chromite block in Jajpur district.

The company, in a formal disclosure to the stock exchange, disagreed with the demand, citing a lack of justification and substantive basis for the claims. The demand notice, received on July 3, is linked to a revised assessment of mineral dispatch shortfalls for the fourth year, as per the mine development and production agreement.

In the disclosure, the company said the alleged violation falls under Rule 12A of the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydrocarbon Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016, which also led to the appropriation of performance security.

Covering the period from July 23, 2023, to July 22, 2024, the notice claims the revision in the assessment is based on the average sale price declared by the Indian Bureau of Mines. The alleged shortfall in mineral dispatch resulted in a cumulative demand of Rs 1,920,72,53,760, which includes the shortfall quantity and appropriation of performance security.

Tata Steel stated its intention to pursue suitable legal remedies. "The management believes that the state's demand lacks justification and substantive basis and accordingly the company will pursue suitable legal remedies before the appropriate judicial or quasi-judicial forums," it said.