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Bhubaneswar: In a major offensive against illegal mining activities in Orissa, the state government has suspended the mining operations in 128 mines, mostly iron ore and manganese mines, in the state.
“Orders have been issued for suspension of mining activities in 128 mines on the ground that the mines did not have proper documentations,” the state steel and mines secretary, Ashok Mahadoe Roa Dalwai told FE on Tuesday. He said showcause notices have been issued to the owners of these mines as to why action will not be taken against them for operating mines without statutory documents.
The 128 cases include 44 mining leases and 84 renewal mining leases (RML). While 50 are iron ore and manganese mines located in Joda-Barbil area of Keonjhar and Koida area of Sundergarh district, the rest are mines of lime stone, dolomite and quartz.
The state government launched a massive drive in early October 2009 to verify the documentations of the mines being operated in the state. It was found during the verification that many of the mines are being operated as deemed renewal, some are being operated without forest clearances and other statutory clearances. The enforcement squad of the state steel and mines department has started raids on mining activities going on in areas for which mining lease has not been granted. This has lead to attacks on the squad members on Monday in Keonjhar’s Thakurani mines, one of the biggest iron ore mines in the state. The state government has received 328 RML applications.
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