Mining mafia-officers nexus in Rewa to be probed

Bhopal, July 23 (UNI) The government today informed the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha that a team of senior officers from the state capital would be deputed to probe into illegal mining activities in Rewa region.

Mining Minister Laxmikant Sharma gave this assurance during discussion on a call attention notice raised by Dr I M P Verma (BSP), who alleged illegal mining activities were going on with the connivance of Mining officials with the mining and forest mafia.

Mr Sharma disputed Dr Verma's contention that murrum worth Rs 10 crore had been illegally mined from Madwa forest beat area saying no murrum was available there.

Though the minister denied the charge of illegal mining, he, however, admitted that 34 cases of illegal mining had been registered in Hata and Gopla areas. The cases for recovery of Rs 17.48 lakh as penalty were pending in courts, he added.

Dr Verma alleged that the mining mafia was causing great loss to the state exchequer by evading royalty and lease.

UNI