BHUBANESWAR: The absence of officials of the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), a multi-disciplinary organisation under the Ministry of Mines, during the visit of the Justice MB Shah Commission to the mining areas has raised eyebrows.The Commission expressed displeasure over the absence of IBM officials during its visit to Sharda Mines, Essel Mines, Joda East Mines of Tata Steel, Mesco Mines and KN Ram Mines in Joda circle of Keonjhar district. Some of these mines were earlier served notices for violation of mining rules.The commission focused on environmental aspects and mining plan violations and enquired about the production capacities and violation of Section 37 of the Mineral Concession Rules.IBM is responsible for regulating mining operations in terms of approved mining plan, environment management plan, environment impact assessment (EIA) and mines closure plan.Several of the mines the Justice Shah Commission visited were previously issued notice by the Forest Department, IBM and the Mines Department of the State Government for violation of rules. But there was no one from the IBM to explain to the Commission about the measures taken by the Central government agency.Alleging inaction by the IBM in dealing with illegal mining, the State Government had brought this to the notice of the Centre.Taking up the matter with the Union Secretary of Mines recently, Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik said the IBM is not extending assistance to the State Government in taking action against errant mine operators.The State Government took up the matter with the Ministry of Mines as a series of correspondence by the Steel and Mines Department to IBM seeking information on excess mining by some errant officials yielded no response.The State Government further pointed out to the Centre that its task force had identified 104 lessees for excess ore extraction in the last 10 years. However, IBM had suspended the mining licence of only 42 lessees. The State Government has no power to suspend licences for excess production, while IBM can take action against them under the provision of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rule (MCDR), 1988.IBM also did not respond to the State Government’s queries on the excess mineral extracted by the erring mine owners, he said.Earlier in September, Steel and Mines Secretary Manoj Ahuja had also written to the Ministry of Mines requesting to issue necessary instruction to the IBM to take action against lessees who had violated approved mining plans.
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