Illegal mining made criminal offence

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January 14

The Cabinet today gave nod to the new HP Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules and Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining Transportation and Storage) Rules 2015.

The rules have been amended after 1971 to check illegal mining. Under the new rules, illegal mining has been made a criminal offence. Penalty for illegal mining has been increased and fine on vehicles carrying illegally mined material has also been increased. Earlier, the illegal mining was a compoundable offence, attracting a maximum penalty of Rs 5,000 only.

Mining lease up to eight hectares can be given only to residents of Himachal. The department has also been empowered to issue letter of intent (LoI) for granting mining lease.

Sources said illegal stone-crushing has been made a crime that would be punishable with a one-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000. Fine for illegal transportation of mined material would be Rs 10,000 for the first time and Rs 25,000 for the second time. If the same vehicle was found transporting mined material illegally for the third time, it would be impounded.

If any vehicle was found transporting up to 10 tonnes of mined material without permission, a fine of Rs 25,000 would be imposed. However, for transporting more than 10 tonnes of material illegally, the vehicle would be impounded and crime is punishable with a two-year imprisonment.

Any person found to be violating the mining lease can be sent to jail for one year and fine of Rs 50,000 can be imposed on him.

New rules have also banned mining within 100 to 500 metres of public property. All mines will now be allotted through auction. In cases where forest clearance is required, mining lease will be granted for 15 years and in cases where just environmental clearance is required, mining lease be given for 10 years.

Royalty for mining has been increased by 50 per cent. For the use of JCB up to 80 bhp, a security of Rs 2 lakh will have to be deposited with the state government. The machinery with more than 80 bhp power would not be allowed for mining.

The new rules have also made provisions for auction of the seized material. The dumping of mines and minerals along the road will also attract a penalty of Rs 25,000.

The Cabinet also approved recruitment of 800 constables in the Himachal Police that woilld include 160 woman constables.

It allowed creation of posts for Baba Baroh Government College that has been taken over by the state government.

It granted approval to creation of two new sub-tehsils in Drini and Alampur in Kangra district as per the announcements made by CM Virbhadra Singh recently.

The Cabinet granted approval for creation of 22 posts of principal in ITIs and 44 posts in the Mining Department.