Union govt seeks reports on illegal mining from Orissa, other states

BHUBANESWAR: The Union government has sought detailed reports on mining activities from the mineral bearing states in the country. The move follows  recent detection of large-scale illegal mining activities in certain states, including Orissa.

Speaking to reporters here following her meeting with Orissa Chief Secretary, Tarunkanti Mishra, Union Mines Secretary Santha Sheela Nair said the Centre was concerned over illegal exploitation of minerals

and it seriously wanted to check the practice at the earliest.

“Some states have taken a few steps to check rampant illegal mining activities. But those initiatives are inadequate and insufficient. More aggressive steps need to be taken to check unfair means of mining and illegal transportation of mineral resources,’ Ms Nair said.

She lamented that not only in Orissa but in all mineral-rich states cases of illegal mining were detected, causing serious loss to the exchequers of the respective provinces.

To a query on expansion of National Aluminium Company (Nalco), Ms Nair said the central Navratna public sector unit needed more coal for the project for the purpose.

“Nalco has been allotted Utkal E Coal Block at Chhendipada in Angul district. To operate this mine, the support and cooperation of Orissa government is quite necessary,” she said.

The Centre has already given forest clearance for the project.

Among others, Industry Secretary Sourav Garg and Steel and Mines Secretary Ashok Dalwai were present in the meeting.