Steps Taken to Curb Illegal Mining
Minister of Mines (Independent Charge), Shri Dinsha J. Patel informed Rajya Sabha today in a written reply that the Ministry of Mine through the Indian Bureau Mines (IBM) has constituted Special Task Forces for inspection of mines in endemic areas, which has conducted inspections in a total of 454 mines in the States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Gujarat and suspended 155 mines under rule 13(2) of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988 (MCDR) due to serious violations, and has further recommended to the State Governments for termination of 8 leases.
He further informed that The central Government has also set up Shri Justice M. B. Shah Inquiry Commission for illegal mining of iron ore and manganese vide gazette notification dated 22.11.2010. The Commission submitted its First Interim Report to the Ministry of Mines, which has been laid before the Lok Sabha on 20.12.2011 alongwith the Memorandum of the Action Taken. The Commission has so far visited States of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Odisha. The Commission has recently submitted its first report on its findings in the State of Goa.
Apart from the above, the Central Government has also taken the following steps to curb illegal mining:
(i) State Governments were asked to frame rules to control illegal mining as per Section 23 C of MMDR Act (so far 18 States have framed Rules).
(ii) State Governments were requested to set up Task Forces at State and District level to control illegal mining since the year 2005 (so far 21 States set up Task Forces).
(iii) State Governments were advised to set up State Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee (SCEC) to coordinate efforts to control illegal mining by including representatives of Railways, Customs and Port authorities (13 State Governments have set up such Committees).
(iv) All State Governments advised to adopt an Action Plan with specific measures to detect and control illegal mining including, use of remote sensing, control on traffic, gather market intelligence, registration of end-users and setting up of special cells etc.
(v) Ministry of Mines has so far held five meetings with the State Governments to specifically review the action taken by the State Governments on illegal mining. This periodical review has been dovetailed in the meeting of Central Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee meetings.
(vi) A Central Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee set up under Chairmanship of Secretary (Mines) on 4.3.2009 has held eight meetings on 24.7.2009, 22.12.2009, 18.6.2010, 22.12.2010, 3.5.2011, 20.9.2011, 16.1.2012 and 27.3.2012 to consider all mining related issues, including matters relating to coordination of activities to combat illegal mining.
(vii) Railways have instituted a mechanism to allow transportation of iron ore only against permits issued rake-wise and verified by State Government, apart from taking measures to fence and set up check post at the railway sidings.
(viii) Customs Department has issued instructions to all its field units to share information on ore export with State Governments.
(ix) Ministry of Shipping has issued a direction to all major Ports to streamline the verification procedures for movement of consignment by road and rail to Ports for exports.
(x) Government has notified amendment in Rule 45 of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988, on 9.2.2011 making it mandatory for all miners, traders, stockist, exporters and end-users to register with IBM and report their transaction in minerals on monthly basis for a proper end-to-end accounting of minerals. As on 19.3.2012, out of 9390 mining leases in the country, 7896 mining leases have registered online with the IBM. The IBM has suspended 1460 mines for non-compliance and initiated prosecution in 4 cases and recommended 21 cases to State Governments for termination. IBM has also requested the State Governments not to issue transit passes for movement of minerals to unregistered persons.
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