Orissa MLAs moot reward concept to check mineral smuggling

Bhubaneswar, Jul 31 (UNI) As many as 15 members of the Orissa Legislative Assembly have urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to incorporate reward provision in the mining rule to check rampant smuggling of minerals from the state.

The MLAs, cutting across party lines, suggested that 35 per cent of the sale proceeds of the seized materials be passed over to the informers while 15 per cent to the mining and police officials in a bid to prevent smuggling of minerals.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, the members said the government had included the reward provision in the Orissa Minerals (Prevention of Theft, Smuggling&Illegal Mining and Regulation of Possession, Storage, Trading and Transportation) Rules 2007 in July last year to check theft of minerals.

But the guidelines regarding payment of reward are yet to be issued, they said adding that at least 35 per cent of the sale proceeds of the seized minerals be given to the institution, villager or person who informed the authorities about the smuggling.

The identity of the informers should be kept secret and the informer be given a code number to receive the award within a month, the MLAs said.

They also suggested to open round the clock Control room with ID phone and squad party in readiness in all mining offices to make it a success. The members said the government could save the theft of minerals worth Rs 5000 crore within three years if the suggestions were implemented in true spirit.

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