Govt to make miners registration must to curb illegal mining

Intensifying its drive against illegal mining, the government today said it is going to make registration of miners and traders mandatory for proper accounting of all minerals-related transactions.

"It was agreed that for proper accounting of minerals, it is essential that they (traders and miners) are registered and they report their transactions," an official statement said.

The registration will be done under the Mineral Conservation Development Rules (MCDR) by amending it. "Accordingly, the Ministry of Mines is working out modification of Rule 45 of MCDR, 1988 to give effect to the proposed measure," it said.
    
Also, the Centre has asked all the state governments to constitute high-level committees to crack down on illegal mining and intensify the drive against the menace. The issues were also discussed with the state governments in a meeting here on September 21.
    
"... The state governments should include representatives of railways, ports and customs in the State ... Committees and nominate nodal officers for operationalisation of instructions issued by railways, ports and ustoms towards effective regulation of transportation of mined ores at exit points," the statement said.
    
About ban on iron ore exports imposed by Karnataka, the statement said, "Since the matter is subjudice, the Ministry of Mines is awaiting final decision of the High Court of Karnataka."
    
Karnataka had recently banned iron ore exports from its 10 ports.
    
A new bill, Mines and Minerals Regulations and Development, is also being finalised with stricter provisions to check illegal mining and is likely to be introduced in the upcoming winter session of Parliament.
    
At present, there are not enough legal provisions for central intervention in illegal mining in states. The magnitude of the problem is so great that as many as 42,000 cases of violation were detected in 11-mineral bearing states last year.
    
The country produced 226 million tonnes of iron ore in the last fiscal, half of which was exported.