Orissa cracks down on illegal mining

BHUBANESWAR - Intensifying its crackdown on illegal mining, authorities in Orissa have asked operators of five more mines to suspend operations, an official said Saturday.

The mines asked to suspend operations by the state forest department are located in the mineral-rich Keonjhar district, divisional forest officer S.K. Mohanty told IANS.

The miners have been served suspension notice after evidences showed that they were mining different ores, violating stipulated guidelines.

“We have also served show cause notices to 15 other miners in the district asking them to explain why they should not be served suspension notices,” he said.

Orissa is one of the largest mineral-rich states in India, with about 16 percent of the country’s mineral reserves.

Investigation into the illegal mining by various state and central agencies started after some politicians alleged in July that some mines were operating without licenses.

Last month, the state mining department ordered suspension of work in 128 mines and suspended licences of more than 400 traders of different ores after they failed to produce documents to show that their mining activities were legal.