KODERMA: The Hazaribag wildlife forest division conducted raids from Tuesday midnight till 10am the next day at Chitarpur wildlife sanctuary area under Koderma police station limits and arrested five miscreants engaged in the illegal mining of mica. Six earth movers and eight dumpers were seized from the spot, an officer said.
The crackdown on the illegal mining of mica was led by the divisional forest officer (DFO) (wildlife), Hazaribagh, Avinash Choudhary, and comprised 70 forest personnel besides policemen.
Speaking to TOI, DFO (wildlife), Hazaribag, Avinash Chaudhary, said, “The department acts on zero-tolerance on the issue of illegal mining. Five miscreants – Suresh Rana, Vijay Saw, Bhim Das, Parmeshwar Saw, and Dilip Rana – were arrested while another two – Rahul Saw and Belu Saw – managed to escape. FIR under different sections of the forest law would be lodged against them.”
“llegal mining adversely affects the environment which severely damages the ecosystem. Complaints regarding illegal mining in the area were received for long,” he added.
Koderma is blessed with abundant natural resources. All the mica mines were closed down after the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. However, people residing in remote areas risk their lives to collect mica from the dangerous mines. Casualties occur regularly in these mines. Most go unreported as the victims’ families and mine operators feared it could end the illegal mining of mica.
The forest department conducts raids and takes action against illegal mining, but it continues unabated.
As per the data, 60 FIRs have been lodged in connection with illegal mining in the wildlife sanctuary area (which is around 150 sq kilometers) in the district from January 2022 till date.
A total of 253 FIRs against named accused have been registered, and 10 have been sent to jail. A total of 61 vehicles, including seven JCBs, being used in illegal mining activities have been seized.
The crackdown on the illegal mining of mica was led by the divisional forest officer (DFO) (wildlife), Hazaribagh, Avinash Choudhary, and comprised 70 forest personnel besides policemen.
Speaking to TOI, DFO (wildlife), Hazaribag, Avinash Chaudhary, said, “The department acts on zero-tolerance on the issue of illegal mining. Five miscreants – Suresh Rana, Vijay Saw, Bhim Das, Parmeshwar Saw, and Dilip Rana – were arrested while another two – Rahul Saw and Belu Saw – managed to escape. FIR under different sections of the forest law would be lodged against them.”
“llegal mining adversely affects the environment which severely damages the ecosystem. Complaints regarding illegal mining in the area were received for long,” he added.
Koderma is blessed with abundant natural resources. All the mica mines were closed down after the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. However, people residing in remote areas risk their lives to collect mica from the dangerous mines. Casualties occur regularly in these mines. Most go unreported as the victims’ families and mine operators feared it could end the illegal mining of mica.
The forest department conducts raids and takes action against illegal mining, but it continues unabated.
As per the data, 60 FIRs have been lodged in connection with illegal mining in the wildlife sanctuary area (which is around 150 sq kilometers) in the district from January 2022 till date.
A total of 253 FIRs against named accused have been registered, and 10 have been sent to jail. A total of 61 vehicles, including seven JCBs, being used in illegal mining activities have been seized.
