Reuters reported that Orissa government will inspect several iron ore mines, in a crackdown on firms involved in illegal mining or violating environment rules.

Mr Anup Kumar Patnaik director of the state vigilance department told Reuters since July the government has inspected seven mines and registered criminal cases against eight mine operators and officials of the forest and mine department.

He said that "In a week or so we will be able to lodge some more criminal cases. Further raids can also take place.”

He said some mine operators were digging up ores and were transporting them without having necessary clearances and some officials were abetting them.

(Sourced from Thomson Reuters)