Centre agrees to Orissa's request on checking illegal mining

The Centre has agreed to various demands of the Orissa government pertaining to checking the illegal mining and transportation of ores through railways, ports and strengthening of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM).

This was agreed in the meeting convened by the cabinet secretary on regulation of illegal mining and co-ordination between different ministries of the Government of India (GoI) and state government in New Delhi yesterday.

Sources said, the Railway authorities have agreed to continue the interim measures like verifying the transit pass issued for the consignment before allowing its stocking at the rail sidings and subsequent loading on to the rakes.Though this is creating problems in the Railway operation as each rake requires movement of about 400 trucks, the interim measure would continue for two more months. Efforts would be made to sort out the problem associated with verification of transit passes (TPs) by this time.

While the Railway authorities have agreed for monthly statements, they have pointed out the difficulty in regulating the entry and exit of so many trucks. In this backdrop, the state government representatives assured the Railway officials to electrify the rail sidings wherever required.

The entry and exit restriction would also be applicable to the private rail siding of Tatas and SAIL. The Centre is reported to have appreciated the state government’s steps to check illegal transportation of minerals and expressed its keenness to replicate the system across the country.