Tighten exit points to curb illegal mining, States told
FROM OUR BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT 1
The Centre has asked the State governments to include representatives of Railways, Ports and Customs in the coordination-cum-empowered committees and enforce their instructions to regulate transportation of mined ores at exit points to curb illegal mining.
Movement of the minerals and ores can be checked at the exit points of the forest and again at the Railway and Port yards to prevent their loading unless the owner established them extracted from the licensed mines.
Comprehensive instructions are also being issued to refuse modification of mining plans sought to regularise illegal mining. The States have also been told to institute regular inspections wherever the mining production shows a sharp increase.
The Ministry of Mines is also amending the modification of Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules of 1988 for compulsory registration of transporters, traders and storage agents dealing with minerals and ores to force them to report their transactions. The rules so far enforce the regulations only on those licensed for mining minerals and ores.
At a recent meeting with the Ministry of Mines, the State mining secretaries were not in favour of imposing a ban on transport permits to curb illegal mining as effected by the Karnataka government on the iron ore movement as they said strengthening the regulatory system was sufficient to achieve the purpose.
