Mines department seek details from 222 companies

BHUBANESWAR: The Steel and Mines Department has sought information from 222 companies having procurement and trading licence of minerals about the use of raw materials by them. Minister of Steel and Mines Raghunath Mohanty on Saturday said the State Government had initiated measures to check illegal export of minerals particularly iron ore from the State. Until full facts as sought by the department are submitted by the companies, permission for transportation of minerals (iron ore) from the State will not be given, he said. The Minister told mediapersons here that the Steel and Mines Department has started verifying the actual requirement of 222 companies who source their requirement of raw material from the State. Minerals purchased and extracted by mining by each of these companies against their consumption will be scrutinised by the department, he said. Mohanty said that action would be taken against the companies for any discrepancies.