Lifting of loose material from banned quarries likely to be allowed

SRINAGAR — After failing to get Environmental Clearance (EC), the government is considering cancelling 58 e-auctioned small mineral blocks along the Jhelum River that were awarded to outside Jammu and Kashmir firms. These blocks will now be available for traditional mining by locals.

According to the minutes (No: 986/MCC/DGM/GMM/20/1284-85 dated 15-06-2021) of the recently held meeting of the Geology and Mining Department in Srinagar, as per The Daily Excelsior, it was decided to revive the traditional, customary sand mining by identifying the rightful beneficiaries.

“The proposal once finalised shall be forwarded to GOI for consideration,” read minutes of the meeting.

The decision was made after the delay in completing sand blocks along the Jhelum River created a large gap in demand and supply, affecting the livelihoods of thousands of people who have traditionally been involved in sand extraction, as well as stymieing the progress of important infrastructure development projects.

The government is considering cancelling the e-auction procedure and refunding the 50% bid money to winning block bidders. Last year, these blocks were e-auctioned, with the bulk of the blocks going to firms from outside J&K. “Other blocks for which EC has been denied shall also be examined for early decision on case to case basis,” the minutes read.

The meeting also agreed that the loose material in the barred quarry belts of Athwajan and Pantha Chowk should be considered for disposal by issuing licences to the former quarry holders in order to minimise unlawful lifting and transportation and loss to the government exchequer.

“… subject to the condition that the loose quarry material shall be made available for important National Projects/Government works in accordance with the rules. No mining would be allowed. Proposals for getting due clearances will be examined in light of reports in this matter,” read the minutes of the meeting.

The Department of Geology and Mining has agreed to charge the Brick Kilns a royalty on actual extraction, consumption of brick earth, and any accumulated outstanding shall also be collected from them.

The meeting was informed that so far 98 e-auctioned minor mineral blocks have been granted the EC, out of which 64 leases are operational. Commissioner/ Secretary Geology and Mining, Manoj Kumar stressed for more concerted efforts to clear the cases for EC and fixed the target of 120 ECs and 106 operational mines at the end of this month with special emphasis on Kashmir as only 14 mining leases of minor mineral blocks have been granted in the Valley so far.

The meeting also stressed for Mine Surveillance System (MSS), a satellite-based monitoring system for minerals, so as to prevent illegal mining in J&K. “Besides the proposal for GPS tracking of vehicles involved in transportation of minerals shall also be prepared,” read the minutes.

At the event that there is a lack of room in the Police Station for the retention of seized vehicles, the meeting agreed to compound the vehicles on the spot with the consent of the relevant authorities.

“However, it was reiterated that the mechanism of on spot compounding should not be misused. It was also discussed that the owner should be recorded as the offender rather than the driver of the vehicle to achieve deterrence more effectively,” read the minutes of the meeting.

The meeting resolved that unlawful mining would be monitored at all times to avoid financial loss to the state, and that demarcation of all leased out blocks would be conducted and finished in a timely way to ensure that the mines could be operational as soon as feasible.

The minutes of the meeting further said, “Necessary action as warranted under rules be taken against unauthorized persons extracting minor minerals from the area adjacent to the e-auctioned minor mineral blocks including filing of FIRs. Any laxity in the matter on part of the concerned SHO shall be viewed seriously.”