Oct-Dec mineral seizure amount drops sharply

The state steel and mines department has seized about 300,000 tonne minerals, most of which were stored at non-forest areas, amounting to Rs 5 crore in the October-December period, according to a quarterly illegal mining return data submitted by the government.

In the July-September quarter, the state had captured about 900,000 tonne minerals having market value of Rs 68 crore. The drop in seizure amount was primarily because of halt in mineral production and transportation during the period, said the sources.

In the last three months, the enforcement division of the steel and mines department captured 273,476 tonne major minerals from several storage areas in non-forest areas, amounting to Rs 3.4 crore. It also seized 3,843 tonne major minerals stacked at forest areas and having market value of Rs 50 lakh.

The mines office sleuths identified 1,521 tonne of minor minerals worth Rs 1.1 crore stashed at forest land and 512 tonne of major minerals valued at Rs 4 lakh during the last quarter, the data showed.

According to Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, the list of major minerals include iron ore, bauxite, coal, chromite and manganese ores, while lime stone, dolomite, brick earth and sands used for special purpose are termed as minor minerals.

A total of 822 tonne of major minerals and 27 tonne coal were also captured while these were being transported. In the seizure process, the steel and mines department captured the vehicles used in the storage and transportation, worth Rs 5.4 lakh and collected Rs 34 lakh as penalty, the data showed.