A special campaign was launched in the State for checking illegal mining and transportation. The campaign launched at the initiative of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has yielded good results. The campaign was conducted from October 5 to 20, with the cooperation of public representatives while efforts were also undertaken to create awareness among people. During the campaign, 965 cases of illegal transportation and 81 cases of illegal mining were detected. Maximum 83 cases of illegal transportation were detected in Bhind followed by 74 in Gwalior. Fines were realised and these cases were presented in the courts of collector and SDM. It may be mentioned that a joint team of Minerals, Revenue Departments and police has been formed in all the districts to check the illegal mining and transportation. The team checked illegal transportation intensively and also identified some mines in various districts and did their physical verification. During the campaign, 965 cases of illegal transportation were registered and fines to the tune of Rs 69.52 lakh were realised. Similarly, 81 cases of illegal mining were detected and fines to the tune of Rs 1,23,53,000 were levied. Out of this, Rs 4.89 lakh has been deposited while rest of the cases are pending in the concerning courts of collector and SDM. Maximum penalty of Rs 11.95 lakh for illegal transportation was recovered in 83 cases in Bhind followed by Rs 3.85 lakh in 74 cases in Gwalior. The mining leaseholders have been instructed to put up notice boards at the mining sites displaying sanctioned size of the mining area, Khasra number, name of the mineral etc. while notices were issued to some leaseholders where permanent poles for boundary demarcation were not found. Action will be taken against such leaseholders as per laws. During the first fortnight of the campaign, meetings were also held with the officials of the district administration, Departments of Revenue, Forest and Mines, MP, MLAs, CEOs of Zila and Janpad Panchayats and other public representatives. Light was thrown at these meetings on the importance of minerals and protection of environment. Ways for curbing illegal mining and transportation were also discussed at these meetings.