Srinagar, June 17: In a decisive move to tackle illegal mining, Principal Secretary of the Geology and Mining Department, Anil Kumar Singh, chaired a comprehensive review meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, emphasizing strict enforcement and public welfare-oriented reforms.
Singh directed officials to intensify the auctioning of mineral resources in strict adherence to existing rules and regulations. He called for a full-scale crackdown on illegal mining, mandating stringent legal action against violators and complete compliance with Central and UT mining laws.
The Principal Secretary underlined that revenues generated through mining must be channelled into public welfare initiatives, particularly in road infrastructure, healthcare, and other social sectors that directly impact communities.
Singh urged the immediate filling of vacant positions to ensure seamless operations. He also called for robust surveillance through multi-departmental task forces, flying squads, informant networks, checkpoints, and e-challaning mechanisms to detect and deter illegal activities.
The department reported that during 2024–25, 36 limestone and 205 minor mineral leases were granted.
Notably, a revenue of Rs 16.79 crore was collected from compounding of vehicles and machinery involved in illegal mining, with 6,219 seizures made this year. The total departmental revenue reached Rs 150.49 crore in 2024–25, while gypsum mining alone contributed Rs 4.38 crore in 2025–26.
Singh reiterated the department’s mandate to promote mineral-based industries to enhance employment, revenue generation, and ensure uninterrupted supply of construction materials essential for government projects.
The review also featured updates on exploration and extraction of key minerals including limestone, granite, blue sapphire, gypsum, lithium, and coal, with emphasis on conducting geo-scientific and hydro-geological surveys for infrastructure development and hazard mitigation.
The meeting was attended by the Director of Geology and Mining, Director Finance, Managing Director J&K Minerals, Joint Director, and other senior officials.
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