Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 31: Despite framing new rules to stop illegal mining in J&K, there is very little implementation of these rules on the ground.
Under the new rules, government has decided to impose tax on miners for restoration of mining areas and grant mining leases through open auctions unlike the old tendering process.
As per the 'Minor Mineral Concession, Storage, Transportation of Minerals and Prevention of Illegal Mining Rules' framed by the Industries and Commerce Department J&K, each mineral concession holder in a cluster shall be responsible for implementation of the environment management plan.
They will also be responsible for undertaking the phased restoration, reclamation and rehabilitation of land affected by mining operation.
The rules were made in consultation with the Irrigation and Flood Control Department and the Forest Department.
However, an official said that there is very less implementation of these rules. "Rules have been framed, but question is why is there little or no implementation of the rules for preservation of the environment," the official said.
He said that most of the rules have been confined to papers only. "There should be proper implementation of these rules only then environment could be preserved."
For any act of illegal and unauthorized mining, according to new rules, FIR shall be filed against the person who commit such offences and all the tools equipment, vehicles be handover to the police for further course of action.
"Pecuniary penalty and punishment for the offence as provided under Section 21, 23 A and Section 23 B of the minerals Act 1957.
"An amount equal to 10 per cent of the royalty paid to the state shall be charged from the mineral concession holder for restoration and rehabilitation works in the mining areas," the official quoted the rules.
"The expenditure on restoration and rehabilitation of the mining areas shall remain the first charge on the fund," he said.
Under the new rules, no permission shall be granted to any mineral concession holder unless a mining plan approved under these rules is substituted and approved by the government. Further it says that in respect of river bed mining or mining near a water works, no objection certificate of the Irrigation and Flood Control department be obtained before any modification is made in the original mining plan.
It says that leases shall be granted after following an open auction process after approval from the competent authority. |
