Maharashtra asks for report on illegal mining

Hindustan Times had reported about a city firm illegally mining bauxite ore in Sakhari Velas village of Ratnagiri district.

A day after the Hindustan Times reported about a city firm illegally mining bauxite ore in Sakhari Velas village of Ratnagiri district, the state’s environment department has said it will ask the district administration for a report in illegal mining in the area.

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"I have asked local district officials to send me a report about the illegal mining activities that have been reported. I will take stock of the situation once these reports are in," environment secretary Valsa Nair Singh said, on Tuesday.

Hindustan Times had reported on Monday that city-based firm, Ashapura Minechem Limited, has been illegally mining 10 times more bauxite ore in Sakhari Velas than it was allowed to. It continued mining at the site although its licence expired in November 2009.