Bhubaneswar, Feb 3: The Odisha government has taken a major step to curb illegal mining and boost state revenue. Under the Odisha Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016, the government has decided to double the ‘additional fees’ on royalties for minor minerals such as sand, stone, moram, and laterite.

The new measure aims to stop illegal mining operations and prevent the evasion of royalties, a practice that has been widespread due to the absence of strict financial penalties earlier. Officials said that with the higher fees in place, the state treasury is expected to see a significant increase in revenue.