August 27,
The Centre on August 26 rejected the demand of banning Iron ore export and instead asked states to take stringent steps to prevent illegal mining.
Minister for mines B K Handique said in Rajya Sabha, “Merely because state governments are not able to prevent and stop illegal mining, we should not ban export of Iron ore.” The minister also rejected CPM’s demand for nationalization of mines to check illegal mining.
The Minister acknowledged that the problem of illegal mining had taken on alarming proportions, but insisted that it was a “problem of governance”.
“Rather than banning export of Iron ore, we need to see there is no illegal production of Iron ore,” the Minister said, adding that the need of the hour was to tighten the regulatory system.
Handique also expressed hopes that the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, 2010, will tackle the problem of illegal mining and ensure appropriate approach in granting of mineral licenses.
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