Illegal mining: Goa, Odisha, Jharkhand still to file ATRs

Three states of Goa, Odisha and Jharkhand have not submitted the latest action taken reports on steps taken to curb illegal mining even after a high level panel raised the issue in September last year.
Justice M B Shah Commission in 2014 had reported illegal mining worth over Rs 22,000 crore in Jharkhand, unlawful ore exports to the tune Rs 2,747 crore from Goa and blatant encroachment in Odisha by companies.
"At the last CCEC (Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee) meeting, earlier this month, the issue of updated action taken reports (ATRs) on action on illegal mining from Jharkhand, Goa and Odisha was taken up. These states have not submitted their reports even after this issue was taken up ten months back at the CCEC meeting," a source said.

According to the minutes of the CCEC meeting, held here on June 5 under the chairmanship of Mines Secretary Anup K Pujari, the Centre drew state's attention on the pending cases of action taken on decision of previous CCEC meetings.
On ATRs on illegal mining, the minutes of the meeting said: "Updated action taken report (ATR) on Shah Commission Reports on illegal mining from concerned state governments of Goa, Jharkhand and Odisha were sought in the CCEC meeting held on September 18, 2014 ... Such ATR's are still awaited."
Besides, the states have been urged to initiate auction process for mines at the earliest.

Pujari informed the states that Mineral Auction Rules (MAR) and Mineral (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules have already been notified and Model Tender Document and Model MDPA have also been uploaded on the new website of Mines Ministry.

This has been expedited to facilitate states to "initiate the mineral auction of the identified blocks, at the earliest. Now state governments are requested to inform the dates for starting the auctioning of identified mineral blocks," the minutes from the meeting said.
The states were also informed that 166 Geological Reports (GRs) explored by the GSI have been given to the states free of cost, to assist them in further identification of blocks for auction.

According to minutes of the meeting, Pujari emphasised on "the urgency of initiating the auction processes by the state governments. He further mentioned that the state governments should not see mining sector only from point view of revenue generation rather states should approach the sector for its coordinated development and mineral conservation.