Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: Dy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary today informed the Assembly that the Government will soon come with a new mining policy keeping the interests of the people of J&K in view.
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Responding to a Calling Attention Motion of BJP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia, the DyCM said the directions in this regard have been given to officers for framing a new mining policy in the UT by keeping the interests of local people in view. Besides, the suggestions of members will also be sought in this regard, he added.
The Minister said the Mining Policy was framed in 2016 when the Chander Parkash Ganga of BJP was the Industries Minister. In that policy no provision for locals for mining was kept. There was no control on mining. The mining was done but it was named as illegal mining, he added.
He said the crushers in the UT were established prior to framing of Mining Policy in 2016 and they have no role in illegal mining. “Earlier no one talked about mining but now it is a daily issue,” he added.
Earlier, Mankotia through his resolution expressed concern over the problems being faced by the people due to closure of crushers in the UT. He said he is not opposed to closure of those crushers who have not fulfilled formalities but why those crushers have been closed who have fulfilled all formalities.
He said people don’t get material as crushers have been closed. He stressed on amending the policy framed in 2016 in this regard. It is unfortunate that a person living in Panchari village of Udhampur having source of Bajri near his house has to purchase the same from Udhampur town. He said in Jammu division no permission was given for last 20 to 30 years and there is no proper monitoring by the Mining Department.
Mankotia said the Department is facing shortage of staff and out of 434 posts in Mining Department 244 are lying vacant at present. This needed to be examined and House Committee be framed for the same, besides the mining be legalised in the UT, he added.
The MLA, while reiterating the demand of framing of House Committee in this regard said the shortcoming be removed immediately so that the people’s sufferings are addressed.
The Dy CM however informed the House that the problems have not occurred due to closure of crushers.
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