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State moves to check illegal mining activity

Staff Reporter

Cabinet decides to bring in some amendments

BHUBANESWAR: The government has decided to take action against those indulging in illegal mining and theft of minerals by making its existing legislation more stringent. The State Cabinet which met here on Saturday decided to amend the Orissa Mineral (Prevention of Theft, Smuggling and Other Unlawful Activities) Act, 1989, official sources said.

By the amendments, the administration would be able to attach property of the persons who would be found guilty of illegal mining, trading, transporting and exporting of minerals, sources said.

There were also provisions of punitive action, including cash penalty and two years of jail for the culprits, a highly placed official said.

Section 23 of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) Act, 1957, empowered State governments to frame their own rules to prevent mineral thefts, he said.

The government also decided to enhance allowances being availed of by legislators. The Cabinet gave its green signal to increase the constituency allowance from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 and electricity grant from Rs. 500 to Rs. 750. The salary of MLAs was, however, kept unchanged at Rs. 5.000. From now on, legislators would get Rs. 21,225 per month instead of Rs. 19,500, official sources said. Besides, it was decided to increase daily allowance from Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 during Assembly sessions. The pension ceiling for legislators were raised from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000. The yearly increment on pensions of legislators was also increased from Rs. 300 to Rs. 600, sources said.

To ensure transparency in functioning of different departments, the Cabinet cleared the proposals to set up inter-departmental vigilance cell in rural development, energy, panchayati raj, water resources and works departments.

Among others, elections for various cooperative organisations were extended by six months. Since the Assembly was in session, the decisions would be intimated to legislators in a proper format, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Raghunath Mohanty.

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