Protecting Rivers: Strict action to curb illegal mining in Himachal
The Community News/Shimla
In order to protect rivers and reduce loss to state exchequer, the Himachal Pradesh government on Monday directed for strict action to curb illegal mining.
A state government official said illegal mining of sand, gravel and stone/boulders without payment of requisite royalty/taxes is not only results in environment degradation. But this practice also causes huge losses to the state exchequer.
“The government has set up Task Force to control illegal mining and review the action taken by member departments for checking the illegal mining at different levels.
It is also trying to increase revenue through scientific mining but at the same time, it is also serious about curbing illegal mining,” he added.
The official stated that to prevent evasion of royalty and for simplification of Form W/X, the same will be linked with M-Parivahan Portal.
Related departments like PWD, Jal Shakti department and Pollution Control Board etc will also be linked with this portal,” he said, adding it will prevent illegal mining and curb revenue loss.
In addition, the government has deployed ‘Flying Squads’ at different places to curb illegal mining in border areas.
The mining staff is conducting raids in such areas during odd hours to check illegal mining in these industrial belts such as Baddi, Brotiwala and Nalagarh area.
The Mining officials are dismantling illegal roads carved out by the mining mafia at the inter-state borders to check illegal mining.
The mining staff is conducting raids in such areas during odd hours to check illegal mining in these industrial belts.
“Strict action has been initiated against the illegal storage of minor minerals in the district and being sold by unauthorized dealers.
Gram Panchayats Pradhans are being sensitized about the consequences of illegal mining and the procedure of grant of mining lease on private land and Village Common Land (vesting and utilisation) Act 1974,” he added.
The department has also initiated the process to identify private land being used for the extraction of illegal minerals by the locals in the Baddi, Barotiwala and Nalagarh Development Authority area. As soon as the demarcation of this land by the revenue is completed higher penalty up to 5 lakh as per Himachal Pradesh Minor Mineral Rules 2015 shall be imposed on those involved in illegal mining activities.
