Chhattisgarh: CAG exposes loopholes in monitoring illegal mining activities
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Due to this, mining activities outside the sanctioned lease areas could not be identified. The number of check posts established to prevent illegal transportation of minerals was found insufficient and the check posts established were also not equipped with weighing facilities.
Raipur. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has said that prescribed measures to curb illegal mining activities in Chhattisgarh were not followed. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel presented this report of the CAG in the Assembly on Friday. In this, the State Mining Department has been asked to ensure regular inspection of mines as per prescribed norms by maintaining adequate manpower and proper records of inspection.
According to the report, Chhattisgarh is a leading producer of major minerals such as coal, iron ore and dolomite and also has significant reserves of bauxite and limestone. There are 37 types of minor minerals found in the state. Till April 1, 2021, a total of 1,957 minor mineral mining leases were approved in the state. The report states that the royalty received by the state government from minor minerals during 2015-16 to 2020-21 was Rs 1,438.67 crore. This was 4.70 per cent of the total revenue receipts from mining at Rs 30,606.89 crore.
The audit report says that measures laid down by the mining department to curb illegal mining activities in Chhattisgarh were not being followed. Boundary pillars/boundary marks were also missing to indicate the demarcation of mine lease area along with absence of comprehensive database of mine leases. Due to this, mining activities outside the sanctioned lease areas could not be identified. The number of check posts established to prevent illegal transportation of minerals was found insufficient and the check posts established were also not equipped with weighing facilities.
As per the administrative report of the department, the number of newly registered cases of illegal extraction, transportation and storage of minerals increased from 3,756 in FY 2015-16 to 5,410 in FY 2020-21, according to the report. The report noted that monitoring of sand mining was found lacking and the department failed to prevent evasion of royalty and non-compliance of environment clearance conditions. The CAG recommended that the government should adopt sustainable sand mining practices and also direct regular monitoring of sand mining activities to ensure effective compliance of environment clearance conditions and regulations.
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