The Orissa state government has decided to ‘beef up’ the regulation of the mining industry in the state in response to the recent ban of iron ore mining by the Supreme Court of India in the state of Karnataka’s Bellary region. The state government has issued a notification for reducing environmental effects of iron ore mining in the Joda and Koira regions.
As per the notification the population and environment of the areas was being affected due to the increased production and transportation of the iron ore from the mines. The notification also stated that it was necessary to develop a master plan for the areas to ensure that the cumulative effect of the extraction from individual mines was within sustainable limits.
An 18 member panel headed by the state chief secretary is to recommend the maximum quantity of iron ore and manganese that should be extracted from the Joda and Koira regions. The panel’s other members would include the principal secretaries of the departments of forest and environment and commerce and transport, director of mines, director of environment, secretary of state pollution control board, commissioner-cum secretary of steel and mines, secretary of works, special secretary of rail coordination and the state chief engineer for national highway.
Currently 29 mines are operating in the Joda region and 28 in the Koira region. 67 mining operations in the state have been suspended till the concerns of sustainable exploitation of minerals are understood and met with suitable actions. Unregulated mining has been the primary reason for large scale illegal mining in the state.