Illegal mining and transport of sand should be completely stopped in Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal : Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that illegal mining and transportation of sand will be totally controlled in the state. The state government will provide protection to contractors who engage in legal mining and transport. They will be extended total support. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan was holding discussions with sand contractors and district mineral officers through video conferencing from his residence today. Mineral Resources Minister Shri Brajendra Pratap Singh, Chief Secretary Shri Iqbal Singh Bains, Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Rajesh Rajaura, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shri Manish Rastogi, and officials of Mineral Department and other concerned officials were present.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that it is the responsibility of the Departments of Minerals, Police, Revenue and the district administration to ensure that contractors should not face any problem in lawful mining and transportation of sand. They should be given protection from persons engaged in illegal sand mining and transport and those obstructing legitimate sand quarrying. Strict action should be taken against those who engaged in illegal work. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that such an arrangement and atmosphere should be created that if sand mining is permitted, the contract can be conducted without any obstruction. Sand contractors who help raise the revenue of the government through lawful sand mining are worthy of respect. It is the responsibility of the government to help them. They are partners in the development of the state by giving revenue to the government.
Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that good experiments have been made in Bhopal and Bhind districts to ensure lawful sand mining and transportation. The models of these districts should be implemented in the entire state. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan held discussions with the sand contractors of Narsinghpur, Bhopal, Bhind, Katni, Umaria, Shahdol, Chhatarpur districts through video conference. He listened to their problems and received suggestions. Sand contractors said that with the efforts of the state government illegal sand mining and transportation has been effectively curbed. Contractors involved in legal sand excavation and transport has earned them more respect. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan instructed the concerned departments to consider the suggestion received from the sand contractors and take appropriate decision. He said that dialogue between sand contractors and the officials of the Mineral Department and the government should continue. Proper solutions to the problems of these contractors should be ensured.
The Secretary Minerals said that there are 43 sand mining districts in the state. Presently, sand mining is being undertaken in 39 districts. Check posts have been set up at entry points in Bhopal. The staff of Mineral, Revenue, Forest, Krishi Upaj Mandi, Gram Panchayat Secretary, Panchayat Coordination Officer and Police Departments is working in three shifts at these posts. In Bhind district, the sand vehicles are checked through RFID system. The RFID system has been set up in more than 400 vehicles. There is a RFID reader naka operating here.