Forest officials under scanner as illegal mining in Koida continues

MINING officials have pointed fingers at the forest authorities for lax enforcement in preventing illegal excavation of minerals in forest areas under the Koida Mining Circle (KMC) of Sundargarh district.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Rourkela

The deputy director of mines (DDM) of Koida has urged the Mining department to take up the issue of illegal mining with the forest officials and help stop loss to the state exchequer. In a letter to the Mines director dated January 31, the Koida DDM said mining enforcement squads frequently discover unauthorised extraction of iron and manganese ores across multiple locations including Malda, Ganua, Kenavetta, Dalita, Panposhia, Gidei, Patabeda, and Kakarpani under the Bonai forest division.