Special Cell to curb illegal mining

According to the Government Order (GO), the 14-member Cell headed by the director of Mines and Geology Department, is constituted “to curb illegal mining, eliminate loopholes in the functioning of checkposts and gather information on iron ore production”.

The panel has been given the powers to constitute five teams to conduct joint survey on the 99 mining leases which as per the Lokayukta’s interim report submitted in December 2008, have “encroached upon” areas adjoining their mines.

The issue took a political turn, when Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy alleged that several Congress leaders of Bellary district owned the companies that held the mining leases.

The GO states that the teams will have to complete the survey within a month and officials from the Forest and Revenue departments can be drawn to conduct the survey. Setting up of the Special Cell comes close on the heels of the Government’s decision to ban iron ore export and stopping issuance of permits for transporting ore for exports.
Members on the Special Cell include secretaries of Forest, Home, Public Works Departments; the transport commissioner ; the regional controller, Indian Bureau of Mines; member secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, port officers of Karwar, Belekeri, New Mangalore and joint directors of the North and South zones of the Mines and Geology Department.

The responsibilities entrusted to the Special Cell include collecting information on the iron ore production in the State and the quantum being used for value addition by local industries.

The panel will also have to gather data on the volume of iron ore which was being exported, the companies which exported ore, the contractors hired by these companies for transport from the mines to ports.

The Special Cell will have to take steps to ascertain that checkposts function effectively to curb transport of illegally mined ore.  It will also have put in place a system to check opening of illegal stockyards and also ensure that illegally mined ore is not stored in stockyards.

The Cell will have to verify the transport permits provided to contractors for transport of ore to industries. Contractors on their part, will have to furnish a detailed report within one week after transporting 10,000 tonnes of ore. The Cell will verify the authenticity of the report and computerise the same.

The panel has also been given the power to conduct a joint survey of leases on applications received for renewal of mining licence. The Special Cell will have to meet once every fortnight.