Bhubaneswar: Mining theft still continues even after e-auction of the mining blocks, informed Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik in the Odisha Assembly, recently. He presented the facts that 89 illegal mining activities have been caught by the Directorate of Mines this year.
The Directorate of Mines has seized 30,537.715 metric tonnes mineral resources and 10 vehicles. A fine of Rs 35.96 lakh towards this has been collected by the District level squad.
Similarly State level Enforcement Squad has caught 1,161 illegal mining activities. In total 18 vehicles have been seized in both the incidents informed the minister.
Other than the above, Mallik informed media persons, "The State level Enforcement Squad has seized 99.36 metric tonne mineral resources and eight vehicles. It has also collected Rs 46.21 lakh fine."