- Evaluation of the Geology and Mining Department’s Operations in Kashmir Division
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: The Deputy Chief Minister underscored the immediate necessity to tackle illegal mining in the region during a high-level review meeting of the Mining Department (Kashmir Division) at the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. Present at the meeting were MLAs from various constituencies, including Anantnag West’s Majid Larmi, Sonawari’s Hilal Lone, and Chanapora’s Mushtaq Guru.
The Deputy Chief Minister called for enhanced surveillance through modern technology, recommending the use of GPS-enabled vehicles, CCTV cameras at mining sites, and drone monitoring. He urged officials to conduct regular and surprise inspections to discourage illegal activities.
He stressed the importance of maintaining accurate and real-time data entry in the e-market web portal to ensure that all extracted quantities are recorded correctly. Close collaboration between the Mining Department and law enforcement is essential to promptly address illegal mining and transportation activities.
“The department should initiate awareness campaigns to inform local communities about the legal consequences of illegal mining and promote the reporting of such practices,” the Deputy Chief Minister emphasized. He also directed the imposition of strict fines and penalties on individuals and organizations found to be engaging in illegal mining, sending a clear message against these activities.
Furthermore, he highlighted the necessity of closely monitoring the data uploaded to the e-market portal to prevent manipulation, reinforcing that these measures will not only combat illegal mining but also enhance revenue generation and ensure sustainable resource management.
Earlier, the Director of Geology and Mining presented significant initiatives undertaken to improve departmental operations and transparency, including the transition to E-Auction, the launch of E-Challan, and the E-Market Web Portal, along with the assurance of construction material supply for public use and various governmental developmental projects.
Attendees included the Commissioner/Secretary of the Mining Department, the Director of Geology and Mining in J&K, the Special Secretary of the Mining Department, the Joint Director of Geology and Mining (Kashmir), and all District Mineral Officers (DMOs) from the Kashmir division.
