Bhubaneswar, April 7 (IANS): The State Level Task Force (SLTF) meeting on mining on Tuesday decided to form a sub-committee to fix capping on production of iron ore for 2015-16 in Odisha.

The SLTF, headed by Odisha chief secretary G.C. Pati, also took several decisions about the mining sector including carrying out Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) survey in 148 iron ore and manganese mines to check illegal mining operations outside the leasehold areas.

"Since some mines are likely to be opened as per the amended MMDR Act, the meeting decided to form a sub-committee to recommend to the government on capping of iron ore production in Joda and Koira sectors for 2015-16," said mines director Deepak Mohanty.

It is expected that the capping would be increased this financial year after an inter-departmental committee on April 4 recommended opening of 26 mines including 22 iron ore and manganese mines under the provisions of the MMDR Act.

The lease period of the mines would be extended as per the Act.

Mohanty said the government had imposed a cap of 13 million tonnes in Koira sector, while it was 44 million tonnes in Joda sector for 2014-15.

Both these are the two most prolific iron ore mining sectors in Keonjhar district.

Mohanty said that the SLTF also decided to complete the DGPS survey of 148 mines in six to nine months.

"We have already completed DGPS survey of 39 iron and manganese mines in the state. The DGPS survey of remaining 148 mines would be completed in six to nine months," said the mines director.

He said the survey work would be taken up as per the guidelines of the M.B. Shah Commission which inquired into illegal mining in the state.

Mohanty said another unit of the special squad would be raised to check theft in the mines in the state. There are three units of the special squad in the state engaged in checking illegal mining activities.