SHIMLA | May 17, 2017: During the last financial year, 8500 cases of illegal mining were detected in Himachal Pradesh and compounding fees of Rs 4.50 crore was imposed on them. Similarly, during 2015-16 financial 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.

Senior officials from Industries department said that government is committed to check illegal mining and it has been made incumbent upon the concerned departments to file FIRs in case of damage to properties of Public Works Department, Irrigation and Public Health and Revenue Department etc.

They said that a new Minor Mineral Rules had been notified to streamline the process of exploiting minor minerals apart from providing deterrent penalties of prosecution and fine up-to Rs 50,000 for various violations.

Officials said that minor mineral sites are being auctioned in a transparent manner to meet out the burgeoning demand of material like sand, stone, bajri etc which is fetching handsome revenue to the state exchequer and also curbing illegal mining as vulnerable sites will no more remain open or free hold and susceptible to illegal mining.

They said that to decentralize powers under the mining acts to take cognizance of illegal mining activities, government has delegated powers to 39 officers 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 constituted under the chairmanship of concerned SDM, having DSP and ACF its members to conduct raids against illegal mining, they added.

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 officer of the department will have to undertake inspections of crusher and 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.

(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)