In the Indian state of Orissa a crackdown on illegal mining may see mining exploration activities being reduced by the state government. The mining scandals which have embarrassed the Naveen Patnaik government have resulted in an online database of mine operations in the state. This is to help check illegal mining and transportation of mineral resources.
The state government is also setting up a network that will have a Project Management Unit in the steel and mines department. This unit will be responsible for mining operations in 14 circles that include 125 mines said the steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty.
Mr Mohanty said that the in the first phase, 57 mines of Joda region in Keonjhar will be put under surveillance. Four check-gates in the area will be upgraded and trucks engaged in transportation of minerals will be issued e-permits and code numbers to monitor their movement from mines to the destination.
Steel and Mines Secretary Manoj Kumar Ahuja said that a panel headed by Chief Secretary BK Patnail will set up a committee to study the capacity of road and rail infrastructure in the mining areas. If the panel feels that more minerals were being explored than the bearing capacity of road and rail infrastructure, steps could be taken to reduce the volume of mineral exploration he added.
Security measures shall be implemented in form of check gates and CCTV cameras in the Keonjhar district to ensure that only authorized mining resources get transported by rail and road in the state. The entire process in Joda circle will be completed in 45 days on a pilot project basis and later will be extended to other mining areas in the state.