Portal unveiled for allowing mining by landowners

Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Tuesday claimed that the new mining policy fundamentally shifted the control of sand and gravel resources directly into the hands of people, effectively curbing corruption and increasing the state revenue.

Cheema said this after he, along with Mines and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, unveiled standardised online application forms for landowner mining sites and crusher mining sites on the official Punjab Mining Portal.

Addressing mediapersons, he said the key highlight of the new policy was the empowerment of landowners as they would now have the direct right to mine sand and gravel on their own land without the need for auctions.

Moreover, the new mining policy incorporated robust technological measures to eradicate illegal mining with the mandatory installation of cameras and radio frequency identification (RFID) system across mining sites and transportation routes.

He said the change would eliminate the role of intermediaries and potential for monopolisation, giving the power directly to the rightful owners of the land.

Goyal said the initiative featured immediate application availability for sites already included in approved district survey reports (DSRs). It also provided a streamlined pathway for landowners with mineral-bearing land that was not yet included in the DSRs. They could approach the district administration or the Department of Mines and Geology through the respective district mining officer.