As many as 144 illegal mining cases are now sub judice in various courts across the State, informed Steel and Mines Minister in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray on Friday.
According to the data furnished by the Minster, highest 68 cases are sub-judice in the JMFC Court, Barbil followed by 50 in SDJM Court, Bonai, nine in Vigilance Court, Baleswar, eight in SDJM Court, Raijangpur, three in SDJM Court, Keonjhar, two in JMFC Court, Kashipur and one case is sub-sudice each in Vigilance Court at Sambalpur, SDJM Court at Karanjia, SDJM Court at Baripada and JMFC Court at Bisamakatak.
When Ray wanted to know whether the State Government would directly undertake mining activities in view of a widening mining scam, the Minister said it is not possible for the State Government to undertake mining activities directly.