By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Mining officials have seized at least 600 tonnes of iron ore in Orissa’s mineral-rich Keonjhar district in a continuing crackdown on illegal mines, an official said Wednesday.
“The ore was seized from Thakurani reserve forest area. About 200 tonnes of iron ore was seized today (Wednesday), 400 tonnes of ore was seized Tuesday,” Deputy Director (mines) U.C. Jena told IANS.
Investigations into illegal mining in Orissa by various state and central agencies started after some politicians alleged in July that some mines were operating without licences.
Jena said the mining officials have seized more than five lakh tonnes of iron ore worth about Rs.50 crore from various places in mineral-rich districts of Keonjhar and Sundergarh since July. The officials have also seized about 6,000 tonnes of manganese ore from the region.
The district head quarters of Keonjhar is located at a distance of about 235 km from state capital Bhubaneswar. Sundergarh is its nearby district.