Steps to stop illegal mining in Rajasthan

First, read the whole Mining sector of India and then read the following write-up. Your retention level will increase exponentially.

About Sand

• Sand is a minor mineral under Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.
• Section 15 of the MMDR Act, 1957, empowers the State Governments to make rules for regulating the grant of minor mineral concessions.
• Moreover, Section 23C of the MMDR Act 1957, empowers the State Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals and for the purposes connected therewith.
• Thus, minor minerals are regulated at the level of State Government.
• As per the report of the Government of Rajasthan, State Government is taking all necessary steps to stop illegal sand mining and has constituted Special investigation team (SIT) in all districts under chairmanship of district collectors including representatives of police, mines, forest and transport department.

Rajasthan illegal mining

• Government of Rajasthan has informed that Hon'ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 16.11.2017 has banned all the 82 mining lease/quarry holders in the State of Rajasthan from carrying out mining of sand and bajri unless a scientific replenishment study is completed and the matter is fully considered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and environmental clearance is granted or rejected.
• After getting fresh environmental clearances sand mining in three leases has been resumed in June 2021.
• According to the State of Rajasthan, after the ban on sand mining by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the State Government has reported 36594 cases of illegal sand mining and transportation of sand, registered 3286 FIRs, seized 37435 vehicles/machinery and recovered Rs 226.15 crore as a penalty, till 30th June 2021.

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Mining of Granite

• Granite being a building stone comes under Minor Mineral, as defined under clause (e) of section 3 of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).
• As per section 15 of the MMDR Act, 1957, State Governments have been empowered to make rules for regulating the grant of mining leases or other mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith.
• Therefore, the administration of mining of minor minerals including granite is completely within the domain of the respective State Governments.
• However, the Granite Conservation and Development Rules (GCDR), 1999 has been framed by Central Government which aims at bringing uniform rules for conservation, systematic development and scientific exploitation of granite resources.
• Further, the Ministry of Mines vide order dated 23.04.2021 has constituted a Granite and Marble Development Council for a period of three years to prescribe a uniform framework with regard to systematic and scientific exploration of Granite and Marble minerals throughout the country.