Gumla cracks down on illegal bauxite mining

Gumla: The Gumla administration on Thursday filed an FIR against a mining company, a day after conducting operations at four locations against illegal bauxite mining in Netarhat plateau region.Probe revealed that mining lease holders were illegally extracting bauxite from areas beyond their designated plots in Bishunpur block of Gumla district.The joint operation was executed by the Gumla district task force and forest departments of Gumla and Lohardaga districts. A special task force, led by Gumla DFO Ahmed Belal Anwar, and including the Chainpur SDPO, Gumla SDO, and the district mining officer. It was supported by 40 police personnel and six surveyors to measure the illegally mined areas.DFO Anwar said, "Over 20 acres outside the lease area were illegally mined in Amtipani. Unauthorized mining was detected across 30 acres t Pidhapat More. We found missing or damaged boundary pillars and evidence of blasting operations in Bahargadha and Ramjharia."The investigation uncovered various stages of illegal mining activities on forest land, government property, and private holdings, extending from the periphery of authorized lease areas.Gumla DC Karn Satyarthi said, "We initiated this action acting upon complaints about mining beyond lease boundaries, Drive will continue."