The state steel and mines department on Thursday raided major mines and about 10 iron ore crusher units operating in the Koira mining circle in Sundergarh district, for their alleged involvement in illegal mineral raising and usage, official sources said.
“Yes, there have been raids at several mines and at some iron ore crusher units. I can not divulge much details,” said P K Mahapatra, deputy superintendent of police of Rourkela, under whose jurisdiction Koira mining circle falls.
The raid was conducted jointly with the Koira police and other senior officials of state steel and mines department. The director of mines and deputy director of mines, Koira mining circle were not immediately available for comments.
The steel and mines department had raided the mining unit of Adhunik Metaliks at Koira couple of months back. The department has been frequently monitoring mineral excavation and trading business at key mining hubs. “This is a routine process. We do not have any information regarding this,” said Manoj Ahuja, secretary at steel and mines department, Orissa government.
