State takes steps to curb mineral theft in non-lease areas

The Orissa government today decided to further tighten the administration and policing system in the mining belts of the state to check theft of minerals in the non-lease areas.

Though various reform measures have been taken by the state government to revamp the mineral administration in the lease areas, such an initiative was lacking for the non-lease areas.

Keeping that in view, the government has decided to improve policing at the ground level. It was also decided to further strengthen the District Level Enforcement Squads (DLES) and ask the district collectors and the superintendents of police (SP) to take a lead in the matter.

The issue of illegal mining in different areas of the state was discussed in a high level meeting chaired by chief secretary, Tarunkanti Mishra here today.

The government’s decision would be communicated to the district collectors and superintendents of police soon. The latest decision assumes importance as reports of illegal mining in the non-lease areas have come to the notice of the government.

The meeting deliberated on various measures to prevent the illegal mining in the non-lease areas and decided to seek the co-operation of the railway authorities in checking this menace. The railways authorities were requested to initiate measures to check illegal raising and transportation of minerals through their networks.

On close examination of the issues relating to the system weakness in the mineral administration, it was found that though the transportation of minerals are being done by the railways, there is no proper verification of the sources of procurement of these raw- materials.

According to sources, the railway authorities have siding facilities at different railway stations for transportation of minerals. Persons intending to transport minerals through railways book space near the railway siding and arrange transportation through its network. However, the government apprehends that the minerals transported through this route are not verified for authenticity and bonafideness. The government officials opine that in the absence of such verification of the source of procurement, it is not possible to establish whether the ores transported to various destinations outside the state are legally or illegally mined. Keeping that in view, the railway authorities were urged to support the state government in detection of illegal mining and transportation of ores.

It may be noted, the Orissa government has constituted an inter departmental committee of various revenue generating departments for sharing of intelligence, resources and manpower with a view to check illegal mining activities in the state.