Chandigarh, January 30
With the objective of ensuring uninterrupted availability of minor minerals, strengthening state revenue and maintaining regulatory discipline in the mining sector, Punjab Mining and Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal called for swift operationalisation of legal mining sites across Punjab while ordering firm action against illegal mining activities.
Presiding over a high-level review meeting of the Mining and Geology Department at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA) here, the Cabinet Minister reviewed progress of statutory clearances and enforcement mechanisms. He directed all Executive Engineers-cum-District Mining Officers to expedite approval of District Survey Reports through the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority so that the maximum number of legal mining sites could become functional within the shortest possible time, thereby checking illegal extraction and meeting market demand.
He said, “timely approvals were crucial to ensure adequate availability of minor minerals and to check illegal extraction.”
The Mining and Geology Minister further instructed that all pending Environmental Clearances for new contractual and Large Mining Sites be completed on priority. “Expansion of legal mining sites was the most effective way to meet market demand and plug revenue leakage caused by illegal mining activities,” he added.
Referring to the recent survey conducted by IIT Ropar, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal directed that all newly identified sites be incorporated in District Survey Report Phase-III to enhance the availability of legally mined material. He also asked Superintending Engineers and District Mining Officers to maintain zero tolerance against illegal mining and ensure strict enforcement on the ground.
The Cabinet Minister said the state government was focusing on auction-based allotment of mining sites to promote transparency, regulate sand and mineral extraction and protect river ecology. He added that close coordination with the State Expert Appraisal Committee and SEIAA was being maintained for faster appraisal while ensuring compliance with environmental norms related to river morphology, groundwater safety and flood management.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary Mrs. Jaspreet Talwar, Director Mining Mr. Abhijeet Kaplish, Chief Engineer (Mining) S. Hardeep Singh Mendiratta, all Superintending Engineers and District Mining Officers from various districts.
