Bhubaneswar, Sept. 8: Orissa government today revealed that it had so far arrested 668 people in connection with mining scam and issued showcause notices to three mine owners for violation of mineral rules.

The disclosure followed a review meeting by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Orissa steel and mines minister Raghunath Mohanty said: “Showcause notices have been issued to three mine owners, including Indrani Patnaik. Inquiry against another five mine owners has also started.”

Most of the mine owners have been found guilty of excessive extraction of minerals. They did not go by the stipulated target of extraction mentioned under the mining lease and subleasing contracts of the Rule 37 of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. Under the rule, any form of giving sub-lease of mines to private parties is illegal.

The state government has constituted a committee to check illegal sub-leasing of mines. “Many mining owners take lease of mining only to sub-lease it to other persons later. People, who take the sub-lease, indulge in all sorts of illegal trading of minerals as there is no accountability. The new committee will be able to check all such activities,” said an official of the state steel and mines department.

Mohanty said the number of enforcement squads to check illegal mining would be increased. The number of illegal mining cases has gone up to 2,104. While 1,604 cases were registered at the district level, rest were registered at the state level. In order to check illegal transportation of minerals, all information relating to mining scams has been digitised. “Indian Bureau of Mines has been requested to initiate steps in this regard. Digitisation of lease of mining areas has been completed with the help of the Orissa State Remote Sensing Application Centre. A total of 117 pillars have so far been installed,” said the official.

The Orissa government said revenue from mining has gone up over the years because of its efforts. “We have collected Rs 3,330.97 crore against the target of Rs 3,000 crore. Similarly, this year, the revenue is expected to exceed the target of Rs 4,000 crore. We have already been able to collect a revenue of Rs 1,903.67 crore,” said the official.