Bhubaneswar: Amid allegations of illegal coal mining and smuggling, the Odisha government has stepped up the operations to check such unauthorised activities in the mines located in Sundargarh district.
As part of the intensified drive, Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena and Forest, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia visited the coal belt in Hemgiri block to take stock of the situation on Friday.
Sources said the two Ministers conducted inspected the mining sites and held discussion with the district officials in order to galvanise the drive against unauthorised mining. Illegal mining activities reportedly continued for many years in dense forest areas like Gopalpur, Telendihi, Ratansara, Jamkani, and Bhogra-Kachhar.
Following reports of illegal mining and smuggling of coal, Sundargarh district Collector had earlier ordered raids on local factories and coal washeries.
This apart, a nine-member enforcement team from the state Mines department is tasked with ground-level investigations. Around 10,000 tonnes of illegally mined coal ore have been recovered and confiscated so far in the area.
Mines Minister said that the state government will not patronise any form of corruption, illegal mining activities, and smuggling of minerals. The government is taking tough measures to prevent mineral theft in the state, he said.
Voicing same views, Singh Khuntia said the government will ensure stringent punishment to those involved in the illegal activity. Involvement of officials, if any, will also be taken seriously, he said, alleging that illegal mining activities were being suppressed during the previous government.
