Rising the depth of the pit to extract minerals from riverbeds or streambeds from 1 metre to 2 metres, permitting machines to mine the minerals, allowing the manufacturing of M-Sand, and okaying the registration of latest stone crushers close to hydel or street tasks are among the necessary takeaways within the newly notified Himachal Pradesh Mineral Coverage-2024.
The brand new mineral coverage, changing the 11-year-old Mineral Coverage-2013, was authorised on February 29, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu mentioned on Wednesday.
“To curb unlawful mining and increase income, the state authorities has just lately authorised a brand new mineral coverage for the 12 months 2024. The brand new coverage emphasises the usage of scientific and mechanical methods for extraction of mineral wealth whereas making certain enough safeguards for the preservation of setting and ecology,” Sukhu mentioned.
“As per present provisions of guidelines, the extraction of minor mineral upto one metre depth is allowed within the river/stream beds granted on mineral concession. Nevertheless, in all adjoining states of Himachal Pradesh, excavation as much as three metres depth is allowed. The river/streams flowing within the state enter into adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand and transporting extra mineral from the riverbed of Himachal Pradesh to them inflicting big loss to the State exchequer,” the notification mentioned. “Thus, to make sure optimum utilisation of collected mineral useful resource within the river/stream beds of the state and to stop erosion and transportation of minerals to the adjoining states, excavation depth prescribed within the guidelines want reappraisal and the related guidelines shall be amended to extend the depth of excavation as much as two (02) meters within the river/stream beds granted on mineral concession,” it added.
Himachal Pradesh Principal Secretary (Industries) R D Nazeem mentioned the brand new coverage was within the curiosity of the state. “Within the coverage, we put particular give attention to the safeguard of rivers, streams and pure sources. Equipment which shall be used for mining won’t be dangerous to nature,” Nazeem mentioned.
The brand new mineral coverage bars mining as much as a distance of 5 metres from the riverbanks. Additionally, no river/stream mattress mining shall be allowed inside 75 metres from the periphery of soil conservation works, nursery plantations and examine dams.
The mining sector within the state offers employment to hundreds of individuals in Himachal Pradesh. Minerals like limestone, dolomite, gypsum, magnesite, barytes, rock salt and many others. have been reported from numerous elements of the state. Business exploitable minerals have been present in 12 districts within the state, together with Shimla, Kangra, Chamba, Nalagarh, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, Mandi, Una, Solan and many others.
There are seven mega cement models within the state – 4 in Solan district, two in Bilaspur district, and one in Sirmour district. Aside from these, 5 mini cement crops have additionally been arrange. Additional, greater than 100 lime-based models like poultry feed, limestone powder, calcium carbonate, hydrated lime and many others. have been arrange in Himachal Pradesh.