Joda: Acting on a tip-off, the mining department here has started initiating action against alleged irregularities committed in the state-owned IDC mines at Roida under Joda mining circle.
According to sources, mining inspector Antaryami Sahoo raided the region after learning that some agencies were paying royalty for low grade minerals but in reality transporting high grade minerals. He detained some trucks and collected sample of iron fines to test the grade.
On the other hand, it was learnt that royalty exemption rule (a rule under which all variety of minerals would come under high grade) is being enforced in most of the mines under Joda mining circle but the same has not been applied to IDC-owned mines. With implementation of this rule, the government would earn more revenue as the minerals extracted from the mines would come under only high grade category.
The manager of IDC mines Yudhisthir Mohanta said the royalty exemption rule has not been implemented in the mine. The transportation of minerals is approved after a stock verification by a government mining inspector and no irregularities have been committed in the matter, he added.
However, sources revealed that a consultancy firm engaged in mineral transportation has been playing a major role to show top grade mineral as low grade and smuggling it to other states. Getting concrete input, the office of the deputy director of mines swung into action to curb the irregularities.
According to well-placed sources, the mining department has asked for invoice copies and related documents from IDC to know the delivery destination of the minerals.
Meanwhile, the mining experts said even as the mines department is investigating the matter more skeletons would be tumbled out of the closet with initiation of a high-level vigilance probe.
PNN