The State Government is committed to check illegal mining in the State for this, Mineral Policy in 2013 has been amended. It has been made incumbent upon the concerned departments to file FIRs in case of damage to the properties of Public Works Department, Irrigation and Public Health and Revenue Department etc.
Apart from it, a new Minor Mineral Rules had been notifiedto streamline the process of exploiting minor minerals apart from providing deterrent penalties of prosecution and fine up-to Rs. 50,000 for various violations. During the last financial year,8500 number of cases of illegal mining were detected in the State and compounding fees to the tune of Rs. 4.50 crore was imposed on them. Similarly, for during year, 9303 number of cases of illegal mining were detected and compounding fees to the tune of Rs. 4.01 crore was imposed on them.
Minor mineral sites are being auctioned in a transparent manner to meet out the burgeoning demand of material like sand, stone, bajri etc. This endeavor of the Government is not only fetching handsome revenue to the State exchequer but also curb the illegal mining as vulnerable sites will no more remain open/ free hold and susceptible to illegal mining.
To decentralize the powers under the Mining Acts to take cognizance of illegal mining activities, the Government has delegated powers to 39 Officers/ Officials of different categories of various departments like Revenue, HPPWD, Irrigation and Public Health, Industries, BDOs, RTOs etc. It is also incumbent upon these departments to lodge FIR against the offenders causing damage to their properties. A Sub Divisional level Flying Squad has also been constitutedunder the chairmanship of concerned SDM, having DSP and ACF its members to conduct raids against illegal mining.
To bring accountability and to exercise greater control on illegal mining, the department of Industries has evolved an inspection and reporting system in the hierarchical order, wherein, every Officers/Officials of the department will have to undertake inspections of crusher/leases on mandated frequency and report to his immediate superior about the action taken by him in the field against illegal mining.
All the Deputy Commissioners have also been asked to convene monthly meetings of all the duty holders to review the action taken by them against illegal mining. They have also been asked to constitute the committees of HPPWD, Revenue and Forest Officials, since most of the routes leading to the river beds have been carved out illegally on the Forest land/ Government land and the mineral so extracted is being stacked on the acquired width of the PWD roads. Deputy Commissioner will also ensure through surprise inspections that no diesel generated sets are used illegally by crusher owners.
In the interest of environmental and mineral conservation, the State Government has decided to permit use of raw material and waste generated from developmental activities such as construction of roads, tunnels and power projects etc. by stone crusher units. This would not only curb illegal mining but also help in meeting out the growing demand of mineral in the market.
These efforts of the State Government have borne fruits. Illegal mining has been curtailed and scientific mining is being encouraged. This has ensured easy availability of construction material for developmental works as well as for the requirement of common man and has also ensured environment conservation.