Odisha, Jharkhand to stop illegal mining in border area

"We have discussed several issues including inter-state movement of minerals. We have decided to adopt IT solutions to overcome the illegal mining activities in the border areas," Odisha's home secretary U N Behera told reporters here.

Jharkhand Home Secretary J G Tubid said "We are looking into all aspects of the illegal mining activities. We will definitely end the illegal trade."

Official sources said the decision was taken at second inter-state coordination committee meeting of the two states. Senior officials of home, forest, transport, commercial tax and mining departments of both the states participated at the meeting.

The meeting agreed to regularly share information and put off certain restrictions on the movement of heavy vehicles through forest routes and erect more check gates, which would be manned by officials of both the states.

The meeting also discussed issues regulation of mineral traffic to ports through roads, measures to intensify joint enforcement activities and setting up of a special cell for monitoring of illegal activities in border areas, the sources added.