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Journalism of Courage
Embrrassed by NDA convener Sharad Yadavs observation that Madhya Pradesh was witnessing Bellary-like scams,the BJP government on Thursday announced a campaign against illegal mining.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the month-long campaign would begin on December 15 and that he would personally review its progress after January 15.
Yadav had first levelled the allegation in Bhopal on Sunday and repeated it when he returned to the national capital the next day asking the state government to act tough.
The NDA conveners comments followed an attack launched by the Opposition Congress against BJP ministers and their relatives on the same issue both on the floor of Assembly and outside.
The MP governments proposed campaign will involve a joint operation by the administration,police,forest and officials of the mineral department.
At a video conference held on Thursday,Chouhan asked collectors to organise meetings of the task force twice a month and slap maximum fines on those indulging in illegal mining. The collectors were told to invoke Section 379 of the IPC to file an FIR for theft of government property against the perpetrators besides the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act,and Mineral Minerals Rules.
The government warned that action would be taken against those involved in illegal transportation by using provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act,and M P Vehicle Rules.
