The Centre has decided to set up a Commission of Inquiry with the aim to curb the menace of illegal mining in the country. The Commission will determine the nature and extent of illegal mining, trade and transportation of iron ore and manganese and submit its report within 18 months. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha today, the Minister for Mines, Mr. B K Handique said that the Commission may take the assistance of any Central or state investigative agencies or any other authority if necessary. The commission will determine to what extent the management, regulatory and monitoring systems have failed and probe into the tampering of official records and identify the persons responsible for it. The Minister admitted that due to a number of reasons the incidence of illegal mining has grown considerably. He said that the problem has acquired organised dimension and may lead to nexus with criminal and anti national elements in some states including the ones affected by left wing extremism.He said that the Union government has been sensitive to this problem and had been constantly asking the state governments to improve their regulatory systems but the incidents of illegal mining in the country are still being reported. Mr. Handique expressed the hope that recommendations of the Commission will help the government take necessary steps to prevent illegal mining.