States realise Rs 1,060-cr fine form illegal mining: Govt

NEW DELHI: States have realised over Rs 1,060 crore from fines levied on illegal mining in four and a half years till September 2012, Mines Minister Dinsha Patel said on Monday.


The highest recovery was made by Gujarat at Rs 401 crore during the period 2007-08 to September, 2012, Patel said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

Maharashtra has realised the second highest at Rs 150 crore, while Madhya Pradesh's collection of fines out of illegal mining stood at Rs 118 crore.

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu realised Rs 107 crore and Rs 80 crore, respectively during the four-and-a-half-year period, Patel said.

On seizure of vehicles carrying illegal minerals, Maharashtra is on the top with 1,12,695 being confiscated.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had seized 73,863 and 42,065 vehicles, respectively, while Gujarat seized 8,666 vehicles.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowers the states not only to recover the price of the mined out minerals, but also the royalty and rent or taxes, in case the mineral is disposed off.