Centre blames states for illegal mining

Rejecting Justice MB Shah Inquiry Commission’s recommendation to ban exports of iron and manganese ore to check illegal mining, the Centre has passed the blame on the state governments, saying, their lack of governance was contributing to illegal mining.

In its action taken report (ATR) tabled in the Lok Sabha by mines minister Dinsha Patel, the government said, “exports cannot be the reason for illegal mining.”

Justice Shah in its interim report had covered mining in — Karnataka, Maharashtra and Orissa. In a scathing attack, the Commission warned that “the state should not bend its policies and permit export so as to drain out national wealth and permit activities which adversely affect forest area, environment, and encourages exploitation of labourers, even of minors, by various methods.”