DC Poonch reviews status of minor mineral mining
Poonch: Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Inder Jeet today chaired an officers meeting to discuss and review the status of minor mineral mining in the District here at a meeting of Multi Departmental District Level Task Force for Geology and Mining.
The Deputy Commissioner called for the need to streamline the extraction of minor minerals in the District to give impetus to the employment avenues.
Outlining the importance of District level Single Window Committee constituted for the purpose, he impressed upon its members to take all the necessary steps needed for facilitation of mining leases of E-Auction for project proponents.
“Additional Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Nodal Officer of the Committee, will take all measures to bring tangible results in a time bound manner under an intimation to his office,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
The DDC asked the members of District Task Force Committee to work in close coordination and liaison in the best interest of checking illegal mining in the District. He asked the SSP Poonch to facilitate all possible support needed to the checking squads of District Poonch to put in place a robust and formidable mechanism.
The Deputy Commissioner asked for action taken report from AD Fisheries and Pollution Control Board Poonch for last one year. The concerned officers briefed him of the measures being taken to check illegal mining of minor minerals.
District Mineral Officer informed about the latest status of the minor mineral blocks. Giving details, he informed that there were total 32 mineral blocks in the District, out of which 23 have been auctioned and the remaining 23 are awaiting approval from CEIAA.
As for the status of short term permits for Panchayats, the District Mineral Officer informed that out of 05 mineral blocks for Panchayats, 01 has got the approval while approval for the remaining 04 was awaited from the Fisheries Department. On this, Deputy Commissioner directed immediate processing of all the pending cases in a shortest possible time.
Speaking on the importance of checking illegal mining in the District, he directed the District Mineral Officer to identify land to establish Nakas/ check points at the sensitive points to keep a strict and close vigil on illegal transportation and storage of minor minerals.
Deputy Commissioner also directed the DMO to ensure three days in a week at District Headquarter Poonch for smooth and hassle free functioning of office thereby facilitating general public with the services provided by the Department.
Referring to the Committee for checking of illegal mining in the District, he issued directions to include Inspector Fisheries and Inspector Flood & Control from their respective Departments in the said Committee to ensure coherence and vitality of the whole process.
Meanwhile, expressing concern over the complaints received from different quarters, the DDC instructed Pollution Control Board, Department of Irrigation & Flood Control and Geology and Mining to work in tandem and submit a compressive report on the allegation leveled against the operators of Stone Crushers and Hot Mix Plants in the District. He further directed the officers to check the registration status of these units/plants and their operation on ground with a view to ascertain that whether these operate as per norms or they are simply throwing the rules to the winds.
Among others, who attended the meeting included Sr. Superintendent of Police, Additional DC, ACR, Distt. Officer Pollution Control Board, AD Fisheries, I/c Wild Life Warden, Forest Range Officer and Distt. Mineral Officer Poonch.