Bhubaneswar | May 17, 2016: No instance of illegal mining was noticed in 2015-16, Union minister of state for mines Vishnu Deo Sai informed the Lok Sabha.
"As per information received from Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), (a subordinate office under the Ministry of Mines), there are a few instances of ore production in excess of the tentative annual production quantity indicated in the mining plan/ scheme of mining, which have come to the notice of IBM during inspections particularly during 2013-14 and 2014-15. No such case has been observed during 2015-16," he said.
According to Section 5(2)(b) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), a mining plan is essential for grant of mining lease for major minerals. The mining plan has details on the tentative scheme of mining and annual programme for excavation for a five year period, apart from other essential details on mineral reserves, geology, lithology, type of mining, rehabilitation and restoration of mining area.
IBM has been allowing deviation of up to 20% of the tentative annual production indicated in the approved mining plan/scheme of mining. This relaxation is subject to the condition that the cumulative effect of deviation should not distort the approved ore to over-burden/waste ratio and result in significant shortfall in development work.
Excess ore production, which is more than 20% of the tentative annual production quantity indicated in the mining plan, is considered as a contravention of the provisions of Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 1988 (MCDR).
In case of contravention of MCDR, IBM issues a violation notice in terms of provision of Rule 13(1) and Rule 45 of MCDR seeking rectifications in the mining operations by the lease holder. In case the lease holder fails to rectify the mining operations as per the violation notice, IBM launches prosecution in the courts. The IBM is also empowered to suspend mining operations for deviations by the miner from approved mining plan.
(Source: http://www.business-standard.com/)