Koderma, March 26: The mica trade is incurring heavy losses because of the spurt in illegal mining. Koderma, which once used to export mica to countries like the US, Japan and Germany, is now facing a downslide in business.

A local mica exporter, Rajendra Modi, said: “In 1976 there were about 740 registered mica mines in the district but after the Forest Act was enacted in 1980, it was found that 99 per cent of the mines came under the “forest area.” The government did not extend the lease and owners were compelled to close down the mines.”

“Now only 10 per cent mica is mined legally and the rest illegally by villagers and gangsters. Mines located in the ‘forest area’ have been closed down by the forest department. But according to the Supreme Court verdict, the lease could be extended. The mine-owners should get the lease extended to boost rural economy,” said another local miner.

Most of the mine owners in the district complained against illegal mining by the mafia and the alleged government apathy. According to them, the government is incurring revenue losses worth crores of rupees because of its failure to curb the practice.

“Earlier, not a single case of felling was reported, but now it is a regular feature. We used to plant three saplings for every felled tree. But now, the mafia is destroying the forest,” said mica trader I.C.Rajgharia.