Orissa enforces Mining Act to check mineral theft

Bhubaneswar, Aug 7 (UNI) The Orissa government has brought into force an Act to check illegal mining, storing, trading and transporting of mineral products in the state.

The Act would also serve the dual objectives of checking illegal trade and earning more revenue for the state. Any person found violating the Act would be punished with a jail term of two years and a fine of Rs 25,000 or both.

If a person convicted for violating the Act repeated the crime he would have to pay a fine of Rs 500 per day, the sources said Under the Act, any vehicle used in the smuggling of mineral products henceforth would be seized and forfeited. The Act was notified by the Law, Steel and Mine Department on July 16 and came into force with immediate effect, official sources said here.

As per the Mine and Mineral products Development and Regulation Act 1957 clause 21 (4)the seized vehicle could be auctioned. It also barred the persons to trade, store, transport, and process any mineral product without a valid license.

The Act also forbids any individual to store minerals products within 40 km of its mining in a bid to check the illegal trading of mineral products.

UNI