"Squads to check smuggling of gemstones"
Expressbuzz, June 11, 2009
BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has constituted flying squads at the state and district levels to check smuggling of gemstones. To a question from Hitesh Kumar Bagarti (BJP), Steel and Mines Minister Raghunath Mohanty said that steps were being taken to decide on the application for lease of gemstone- bearing lands. Illegal mining and smuggling of gemstones can be checked by this, he said. Besides, raids had been conducted at several places by squads from the Mining Department in coordination with Police and Forest Department employees.
While the State Government has not got any revenue from Balangir district from gemstones during the last four years, the receipts from Kalahandi district which were Rs 7.33 lakh in 2007-08 have come down to Rs 40,740. However, revenue has increased from Rs 81,480 in 2007-08 to Rs 3.91 lakh in 2008-09 from Nuapada district.
NOTE: Hitesh Kumar Bagarti is elected from Khariar, a first time MLA. Hope he continues in assembly discussion and brings local problems to the Government's notice.
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