Illegal mining probe panel to report in 18 months

The Commission of Inquiry appointed by the government will probe the nature and extent of illegal iron ore and manganese ore mining and recommend remedial measures to prevent such activities....

The Commission of Inquiry appointed by the government will probe the nature and extent of illegal iron ore and manganese ore mining and recommend remedial measures to prevent such activities. The Commission,whose chairperson will be appointed by the Prime Minister soon,is expected to submit its report to the government within 18 months of its first sitting.

While illegal mining gained enormous proportions since mid-2004 following a sharp and continuous rise in global prices of iron ore,the setting up of a Commission now is seen as an attempt by the government to show it is getting its act together.

The terms of reference of the Commission are far reaching.

It will identify persons,firms,companies and others that are engaged in illegal mining,trade and transportation of iron ore and manganese ore, said a Mines Ministry official.

It will determine the extent to which the management,regulatory and monitoring systems have failed to deter,prevent detect and punish persons and their unlawful activities. The Commission will also probe tampering of official records,including those relating to land and boundaries as in Karnataka-Andhra Pradesh border where the mines of Karnataka Tourism and Infrastructure Minister G Janardhana Reddy and his brothers are located.

The government has also tasked the Commission to study the impact of such illegal mining,trade,transportation and exports in terms of destruction of forest wealth,environment,prejudice to the livelihood of tribals and the financial losses to the state and the Central governments. The Commission may also submit interim reports to the Centre and recommend specific steps required to urgently curb illegal mining.

The Mines Ministry initiated discussions on

the setting up of a Commission last month following reports of large-scale illegal mining from

state governments in Karnataka,Orissa and Jharkhand.

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While Karnataka reported huge differences between the quantities of iron ore for which permissions were granted and the quantities of iron ore actually transported,Orissa reported illegal mining of manganese in forest areas by misusing the provision of deemed extension provided in the Miner Concession Rules. Jharkhand reported there is a deep-seated nexus between iron ore crusher plant owners,corrupt government officials and middlemen.