A team of officials from the mines and forest departments today inspected an area where illegal mining of iron ore took place in Uliburu forest in Odisha's Keonjhar district.
Steel and Mines minister R K Singh said that a person Deepak Gupta was accorded power of attorney by B K Mohanty Mines to carry out operations in the leased area.
Singh said, "We have cancelled the trading licence of Deepak Gupta and Deepak Steel and asked other leaseholders not to give iron ore to these companies. No new agreement will be signed with these companies."
It was alleged that 35 hectare area, of which 6 hectare falls in the reserve forest was excavated illegally leading to a loss of about Rs 1,800 crore to the state exchequer, official sources said.
The principal chief conservator of forests and the revenue department had yesterday sought reports from the district collector on the illegal mining.
"We have already informed the matter to the Justice M B Shah Commission of Inquiry probing illegal mining in the state. The state government will take strongest possible action," the steel and mines minister said.
Revenue Minister S N Patro said, "I am waiting for the report from the district collector within three days.
