Orissa empowers police to check illegal mining
April 20th, 2010 - 2:46 pm ICT by IANSBhubaneswar, April 20 (IANS) The Orissa government has empowered police in three mineral-rich districts to check illegal mining, Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty said Tuesday.
Earlier only senior officials of the mining department were authorized under the law to detect, seize and confiscate minerals. They were given power under the OMPTS (Orissa Mineral Prevention of Theft, Smuggling) Rules, 2007, to check illegal mining, transportation, storage and trading of minerals.
“Now the government has also delegated the same power to police sub-inspector and inspectors in Sundergarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts,” Mohanty told IANS.
The state government decided to give police officers the power after allegations that some people were doing illegal mining in connivance with mining officials.
Investigations into illegal mining in Orissa by various state and central agencies started after it was alleged in July last year that some mines were being operated without licences.
Since January, more then 150 people have been arrested mfor their involvement in illegal mining. Police have slapped the National Security Act against four of them.
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- Orissa Police slaps National Security Act on mining mafia - Mar 11, 2010
- Orissa cracks down on illegal mining - Dec 19, 2009
- Orissa seeks neighbours' help to check illegal mining - Apr 15, 2010
- Maoists blow up rail track in Orissa(Lead) - Jul 04, 2011
- More people embroiled in Orissa mining scam - Nov 06, 2009
- Over 500 tonnes of manganese, iron ore seized - Feb 27, 2010
- Former Navy man held for smuggling ore - Mar 23, 2010
- Eight trucks of illegal iron ore seized in Orissa - Feb 05, 2010
- Maoists torch police post in Orissa - Feb 10, 2011
- Growing elephant deaths in Orissa raise alarm - Oct 07, 2010
- Orissa assembly stalled over illegal mining - Jul 13, 2009
Tags: allegations, connivance, investigations, minerals, mining department, mohanty, national security act, orissa government, police officers, prevention, raghunath, senior officials, state government, storage