Bokaro | Jul 11, 2016: A team of state forest department officials, headed by divisional forest officer (DFO) Rajender Naidu, on Saturday busted around 12 illegal stone mines and two crushers operational in a Maoist-dominated area under Nawadih block. Illegal stone mining in Kanjkiro forest area has raised concerns for the forest department.

Illegal mining in Chas and Bermo subdivisions of Bokaro is rampant, from where tonnes of coal are smuggled out daily on dumpers, trucks and even passenger trains. Naidu said, "Illegal stone mining has been continuing unabated. Traders carry illegally excavated stones from the mines to stone crusher units, after which they are sold. I will inform DC Rai Mahimapat Ray to ensure the mining and police department takes action to check the unlawful trade".

Naidu was surprised to find stones excavated illegally from forest land. The team seized a tractor used to ferry illegal stones, but workers fled from the spot.

The DFO has issued a show-cause notice to forest ranger Nagender Choudhary and recommended the suspension of forester P N Rajak. He also suspended a forest guard.

Upon inspection, the team found two crusher units operating illegally at Buddgadda. "One of the stone crushers had a mining license registered in Chandankyari block, located around 70 kilometres from the spot," said Naidu.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)