A top official from the Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) on Tuesday expressed concern over closing down of mines following irregularities by miners, citing the case of Karnataka and Goa as the recent examples of such closures.

Mining cannot be done “at the cost of environment” and social concerns and a sustainable growth structure is required for the industry, Controller General of Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) C S Gundewar said on Tuesday. There is a need to evolve sustainable development framework within which all mineral development activities are carried out integrating economic, social and environmental components in the mining industry, according to him.