Illegal mining a curse for the country: Bihar Deputy CM at National Mines Ministers’ Conference in Odisha

Illegal mining operation is a curse for the country, said Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on the sidelines of the 3rd National Mines Ministers’ Conference being held at Konark in Odisha.

The Bihar Deputy Chief Minister further stated that natural resources, bestowed upon us by nature, must not become a curse. In a bid to combat illicit mineral extraction and transportation, the Bihar government has introduced a reward system. The state government is offering up to Rs 10,000 to individuals who provide actionable information on illegal mining and transportation activities.

This move marks a significant shift in strategies aimed at preserving natural resources and improving the efficacy of mining operations across the region.

Also Read: Odisha is treasure trove of natural wealth: Odisha CM at 3rd National Mines Ministers’ Conference

Sinha further informed that India generates over 2.5 lakh crore rupees from mining revenue annually. Despite this significant income, only 10% of the nation's mines have been identified, and a meagre 5% of these are utilised.

While speaking to media on Monday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik stated that three states- Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand produce and supply more than two-thirds of base metal demand of the country.

According to Majhi, Odisha is right described as ‘Purvodaya’ by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and these three states will fuel the growth, and Odisha will play a major part.