Orissa empowers police to check illegal mining

BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa government has empowered police in three mineral-rich districts to check illegal mining, Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty said Tuesday.

Earlier only senior officials of the mining department were authorized under the law to detect, seize and confiscate minerals. They were given power under the OMPTS (Orissa Mineral Prevention of Theft, Smuggling) Rules, 2007, to check illegal mining, transportation, storage and trading of minerals.

“Now the government has also delegated the same power to police sub-inspector and inspectors in Sundergarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts,” Mohanty told IANS.

The state government decided to give police officers the power after allegations that some people were doing illegal mining in connivance with mining officials.

Investigations into illegal mining in Orissa by various state and central agencies started after it was alleged in July last year that some mines were being operated without licences.

Since January, more then 150 people have been arrested mfor their involvement in illegal mining. Police have slapped the National Security Act against four of them.