The State Government will submit a report on the status of various mines to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) at its meeting to be held under the chairmanship of Union Mines Secretary at New Delhi on Thursday.
Chief Secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra, Steel and Mines Secretary G Srinivas and Director of Mines Deepak Mohanty would attend the meeting.A high-level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Mohapatra at State Secretariat on Wednesday to give final touch to the detailed report prepared by the Mining Department on the mining scenario, status of mines and the steps taken to curb the menace of illegal mining.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Union Government to constitute the CEC to give the details of the mining activities and illegalities if any and steps taken to check the illegal mining.The CEC is set to submit the consolidated report of the mineral rich States on April 26 before the Supreme Court which would hear the mining scam case on April 28.
According to sources, the State Government in its report mentioned that steps have already initiated to prevent illegal mining and all the mines are functioning legally now holding necessary statutory clearances.Apart from this, the report has mentioned that measures have been taken in making use of satellite imagery and in setting up a special cell to monitor and regulate mining activities.
The report also emphasized to take effort for ensuring the mining activities in the interest of the State’s economy as the ban on mining has led to an adverse impact on the economy.Moreover, the State Government also furnished the rules framed under the Mining and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 for effective management and regulation of mineral administration, mines running under deemed extension, number of mining clearance and other statutory clearance like forest and environment clearance, mines situated within one kilometer radius from the national parks.
The State Government will also inform the Centre about the status of the proposed anti-extortion and money laundering cell to break the nexus between illegal miners, forest contractors and extremists, the sources said.