Collector cracks the whip on illegal mining in Maharastra, India

Kolhapur police on Thursday arrested four drivers for allegedly transporting bauxite without proper permits, following a complaint from the district administration about illegal mining in the mineral-rich district. The police said that the owners of the concerned mines will also be grilled if found guilty.

District collector on Tuesday evening made a surprise check to the excavation site at Udgiri, about 75 km west of Kolhapur. He asked officials to check whether the six trucks carrying bauxite had permits to transport the mineral. Revenue officers found that four trucks were transporting the mineral without permits.

The directorate of geology and mining has taken serious note of the alleged illegal activity and has sent team to Udgiri on Thursday morning. The team has started inspecting the stock available at the company godown against the approved quantity of bauxite mining. It will take couple of days to finish the inspection work.

Jay Samant, former director of Bombay natural history society, who has raised the illegal mining issue in the Western Ghats frequently, said that though the collector's action is positive, the office should immediately ban the mining activities.

"On paper, two mines are closed due to non-availability of clearances from forest and environment department. However, how many times the administration and mining department have checked whether the mines are closed or not? These activities are deteriorating the entire environment in the region which is permanent and irreversible damage for the short-term small revenue," he said.

Sources said that illegal mining activity in the district can cause major environmental damage as well as revenue loss for the state's exchequer. There is a provision that district mining officer can penalize the miners for illegal works. The officer can penalize three times of the market price of bauxite and royalty. However, it can happen only if the officers monitor the mines carefully, sources added.

Highlights:

- 9 bauxite mines in the district

- 2 mines, Udgiri (Prakash Gavandi) and Kasarsada (Hindalco) have been stopped activity, as per the reports of deputy director of geology and mining.

- 20 to 30 years of lease granted to the mines

- 4 talukas including Shahuwadi, Chandgad, Radhanagari and Bhudargad have mines.

As per the sources close to the mining department, there is an illegal mining activity in the district which is a big environmental damage as well revenue loss for the state's exchequer. The district mining department and deputy director office has very limited staff at Kolhapur. While the district officer reports to the district administration, the deputy director office reports to its Nagpur directorate.

There is a provision that district mining officer can penalize the miners for illegal works. The officer can penalize three times of the market price of bauxite and royalty if found the mineral illegal. However, it can happen only if the officers monitor the mines carefully, sources added.