Bhubaneswar, Dec 10 (IANS) The central government has asked one more mine operator in mineral-rich Orissa to suspend work for violating mining norms.
The Indian Bureau of Mines Wednesday asked the operations of the Thakurani Iron and Manganese Mines in Keonjhar district to be stopped for violation of norms, an official of the bureau told IANS.

The bureau is a multi-disciplinary government agency, working under the ministry of mines.

The decision to suspend work at the Thakurani mine has been taken after inspecting several iron ore and manganese ore mines in the district, the official said.

The bureau has also served show-cause notices to operators of three other mines in the region for irregularities, and asked them to explain why their operations should not be suspended.

Orissa is one of the richest mineral-bearing states in India — 16.92 percent of the mineral reserves of the country are estimated to be in the state.

The state government started an investigation in July following allegations by politicians that some mines were operating without licences.

Last month the government ordered suspension of work in 128 mines including about 50 iron ore mines.

The government also ordered suspension of licences of more than 400 traders of different ores after they failed to produce documents to show that their mining activities were legal.