Jammu, June 19: Geology and Mining Department has generated a revenue of Rs 248 crore which includes Rs 49 crore recovered as royalty and penalty from the illegal miners in Jammu and Kashmir.
“A total revenue generated by the department is Rs 248 crore up to June 19, 2021. However, Rs 219 crore was generated as revenue from bid amount, royalty and penalty in 2020-21,” official sources said.
It was informed that they had seized 6278 vehicles loaded with illegally-extracted material and machines used in illegal mining across J&K in the last year.
Sources said that the Geology and Mining department with the help of Police and district administration had launched coordinated efforts to curb illegal mining.
“We have collected a revenue of Rs 49 crore from royalty and penalty from illegal miners. We have seized 6278 vehicles and JCBs. The vehicles were loaded with the material which was extracted illegally in both the regions of J&K,” official sources said.
They said that the department was working to check on the inflation of material cost and accordingly action was being taken against the elements trying to hike the cost of construction material.
“We have flying squads in Jammu and Srinagar districts to keep a check on the illegal mining with the help of Police teams,” the official sources said.
They said that a District Level Task Force had also been constituted in all the districts to curb illegal extraction of minerals.
District Mining Officers (DMOs) have also been coordinating with Police and civil administration to put an end to illegal mining which had escalated the cost of the material, the official sources said.
They said that the incidents of illegal mining were more in those districts where mining blocks were not operational.
“Registration of land in 14 mining blocks is pending in Jammu, Samba, Udhampur and Rajouri districts and we are trying to get it done as early as possible for the operationalisation of these mining blocks. It will help curb illegal mining,” the official sources said.
It was informed that the Geology and Mining Department sent a target to operationalize 98 leases across J&K by June 30, 2021.
However, some leases are yet to be operationalised as they have yet to get environmental clearance.
“We are in touch with the Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts and concerned departments to get the leases operationalised and also get the environmental clearances by removing bottlenecks,” the official sources said.
The Mining Department had also constituted a committee for detailed investigation into the alleged illegal mining activities of stone crusher units in and around River Tawi in violation of the High Court directives.
The committee has submitted its report. In its report, the official sources said the committee had recommended opening of mining blocks with the permission of High Court and e-auctions so that the illegal mining could be curbed.
The cost of the material has escalated in J&K which has adversely affected the construction work.