The Business Line reported on September 26th 2011 that according to the findings of the Indian Bureau of Mines minerals worth INR 226.04 crore were illegally mined in various states across the country last fiscal.

In the 2010-11 fiscal year, 14,204 cases of illegal mining of 4.358 million tonnes of major minerals, valued at INR 71.52 crore, were detected. In 775 cases, FIRs were lodged with authorities and legal proceedings have been launched in 514 cases. Fines to the tune of INR 122.33 crore were realised from the defaulters.

In the case of minor minerals, 77,431 cases of illegal mining, totalling 3.442 million tonnes worth INR 154.52 crore, were reported in various states. About 766 FIRs were lodged with the police and court proceedings initiated in 9,078 cases. Penalties to the tune of INR 143.94 crore have been recovered from the illegal miners.

Through the IBM, the Centre constituted a task force and conducted an inspection of mines in areas where the problem of illegal mining was rampant by taking the help of satellite imaging.

IBM Controller General Mr CS Gundewar told PTI the inspections were conducted between December, 2009, and March, 2011, in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa.

He said about 434 mines holding minerals like iron ore, manganese ore, dolomite, limestone and bauxite were inspected by the task force.

Subsequently, IBM suspended mining operations in 150 mines and recommended the suspension of mining leases in nine cases to the state governments.

(Sourced from BL)