Orissa forms committees to strengthen mineral transportation

Bhubaneswar: In a fresh bid to curb illegal mining, Orissa government has constituted Empowered Committees for expediting implementation of e-pass and activation of checkgates/weighbridges in Koida and Joda mining circles, official sources said.

Joda circle in Keonjhar district and Koida circle in Sundargarh district were the places which produce more than 70 per cent of the state's iron ore production, they said.

Unless transportation of minerals is streamlined, it would be difficult to curb illegal mining, said Steel and Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty adding that two committees had been set up to check illegal activities.

[caption id="attachment_114489" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="Unless transportation of minerals is streamlined, it would be difficult to curb illegal mining. Reuters"][/caption]

State level and District level empowered committees will look after installation and maintaining the operationalisation of checkgates and weighbridges in Joda and Koida mining circles.

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The State Level Committee comprising deputy director of mines (DDM) and senior officials of Orissa Mining Corporation will assess the requirement of infrastructure to be developed in the existing and new checkgates/weighbridges and submit an action plan for improvement and strengthening of the same.

Similarly, the District Level Committee comprising collector, Superintendent of Police (SP), Regional Transport Officer (RTO) and executive engineer of roads and buildings department will oversee the operationalisation of weighbridges and checkgates as per time schedule.

PTI