To combat illegal mining, the government has now made it compulsory for miners and exporters to officially register themselves, making them liable to punitive action like termination of licences and transport permits in case of any violations.
"Now it has been made mandatory for miners and persons or companies engaged in trading, storage, end-use or export of minerals mined in the country to get themselves registered with the Indian Bureau of Mines," a top Mines Ministry official told PTI on the changes made in the Mining Act.
The government has amended the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988, making compulsory not only registration of miners and traders, but also filing of monthly and annual returns of all transactions, according to the official.
"If it is found that the miner, trader or exporter, as the case may be, has submitted wrong or false information in monthly or special or annual returns or failed to submit it within specified date, mining lease and transport permits can be terminated or suspended," the official said.
The new rules, as approved by the Centre would be applicable from the day it is notified in the official Gazette.
Meanwhile, to intensify its drive against illegal mining, especially of iron ore, the Mines Ministry has taken up the matter with state governments. Over 42,000 cases of illegal mining were reported last year.
Besides, the country produced 226 million tonne of iron ore last fiscal, half of which was exported.
Earlier, the Union Cabinet had approved setting up a one-man inquiry commission under the retired Supreme Court judge MB Shah after several meetings between the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the mines ministry.
The government was keen that illegal mining is checked across the country, including Karnataka where state ministers Karunakar Reddy and Janardhan Reddy were alleged to be involved in illegal mining.
The Centre is now in the process of finalising a new legislation for mines, which has a separate section that seeks to put an end to illegal mining.
