Chouhan directs strict action against illegal mining

Bhopal, Jan 5 (UNI) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stressed on the need for strict action against illegal mining and speedy disposal of pending cases in this regard for ensuring more revenue from minerals.

Mr Chouhan was reviewing the activities of mineral resources department yesterday. The meeting was attended by Mineral Resource Minister Lakshmikant Sharma, Chief Minisyer's secretaries Ikbal Singh Bais and Anurag Jain and other mineral resources department officials.

Pointing out that financial resources were required for development, he said the department must take action in this regard.

He directed all districts to send pending cases of illegal mining.

He asked the officials to make efforts to speed up exploration of diamond, coal and other important minerals in the Bundelkhand region besides directing them to complete the survey of minor mineral resources in 11 districts within one year.

Mr Sharma said the revenue from the department was increasing 10-15 per cent every year. A target of collecting more than Rs 900 crore revenue had been set in 2006-07 of which Rs 665 crore would be received as royalty from coal.

He informed that several cases of illegal mining were pending and exploration could not be carried out over large areas not declared as forest areas.

He added that final survey of diamond mines in Chhatarpur and Panna districts was nearly complete.

UNI