India: In a campaign against illegal mining, local police seized 2500t of gypsum from Dantoor in Bikaner district, Jaipur, on 5 February 2014.
Mining equipment was seized and 15 cases have been registered. On the third day of the campaign, a team was prepared to claim gypsum from a plaster of paris manufacturing unit in Bikaner region. The owner was not able to provide the purchase vouchers or state the source of the gypsum. "We received the information and a team was sent. The Bikaner region has a lot of gypsum that, at times, reaches the plants illegally," said Rohit Mahajan, deputy inspector general of vigilance (mining).
The police have registered eight cases in Jhunjhunu and five cases in Nagaur. Officials asserted that due to fear of action against them during the campaign, several illegal mining mafias have stopped their activities. However, they agreed that more such efforts are needed to curb it completely.
"At several places, the mineral can be found on the layer of soils. To extract it, there is no need for sophisticated equipment. Stopping illegal mining activities in these areas is difficult, but certainly the campaign has struck fear among the mafias," added Mahajan.
Police claim that instead of fining the culprits, cases have been registered against them. If they are found to be involved in illegal mining again, stricter action may be taken.
