Mines director to verify loading figures at ports

As part of its efforts to curb illegal transportation of minerals, the state government has decided to verify the loading figures of mineral ores at different ports within the state and outside.

The verification will be done by the Director of Mines, who will refer to the records of mining offices like transit passes. The Paradip port has been asked to integrate its information on transit passes and loading with the Integrated Mines & Mineral Management System of the state steel & mines department.

The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the State Level task force on mining.

During the review, it was found that the Kolkata and Visakhapatanam ports are not following the procedure of entry and storage of ore being followed at the Paradip port even though there are instructions from the Ministry of Shipping in its letter dated May 24, 2011 to all the major ports to follow this procedure. Sources said, the state Chief Secretary B K Patnaik will soon write to the Cabinet Secretary on the matter.

At the meeting, the transport department was directed to enforce checking of vehicles at strategic locations.

Meanwhile, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (Idco) has been entrusted with the task of setting up of new check gates at 11 sites in mining areas. The Director of Mines will pursue the progress of land acquisition and construction of check gates by Idco.

On regulation of ore transportation through the Railways, it has been decided that the South Eastern Railway will complete the construction of boundary wall and exit points with boom gates and cabins for checking staff in three public sidings- Banspani, Jurudihi and Barbil within three months. Checking staff have already been deployed at these three sidings.

On disposal of Renewal of Mining leases (RML), it was informed by the steel & mines department that 39 applications have been disposed off. The staff of the department will be augmented to speed up the disposal of RML cases.

In the meantime, the State Level Enforcement Squad has detected 59 cases of illegal mining activities from April 2011 to July 2011 which includes mining leases, storage depots, crushers, users and exporters. The squad has seized minerals and vehicles worth Rs 9.62 crore.