The Odisha government on Tuesday said that over 100 mine leaseholders have not paid additional net present value (NPV) on the forestland used by them. State Forest and Environment Minister Bikam Keshari Arukha on Tuesday informed the State Assembly: “There are 111 mining leaseholders who are yet to pay the NPV as demanded in pursuance of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) order. Only five mining leaseholders have deposited the NPV amount partially as demanded.” The State government had demanded Rs. 91.48 crore as NPV from South Korean steel major POSCO of which the company has already paid Rs. 72.68 crore. But it is yet to deposit Rs. 18.79 crore. To another query, Mr. Arukha said at the time of independence, Odisha had 65,652.39 sq km of forests. However, by 1998, the total forest area in the State was reduced to 58,135 sq km. The government estimated 12.29 sq km forest was under private ownership.