Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday instructed officials to stop illegal mining in the State at any cost directing them to take stern steps against illegal mining. The CM said that the Department of Mines and Geology should work towards effectively curbing all illegal mining, including illegal stone mining at various illegal sand ghats and mountain-cliffs etc in the State. Mines and Geology Department, Transport Department and Forest Environment and Climate Change Department should establish coordination and ensure action against illegal mining, he said while holding the review meeting of the Department of Mines and Geology here on Tuesday.

The CM directed the departmental officers to make paper challan and permit checks of trucks plying in the mines areas by coordinating with the Transport department. “Trucks that are caught stealing coal or other minerals should not rot at the police stations, but in such cases, make a provision for penalty. Trucks should not be parked in police stations for long. The number of trucks caught in such cases in different police stations of the State should be executed by March next year. Trucks running in mines areas should not use a permit again and again, pay attention to this. There is such information that a challan is used in transport many times, it should also be stopped. Also, increase the mineral check post in the mines areas,” he said.

The CM said that data should be prepared about how many illegal hills and rocks are being mined in the State. “Ensure that illegal stone mining in the State is controlled. Develop a mining surveillance service system. Prepare a new Minor Mineral Policy and give priority to ST, SC and women groups in that policy. Increase revenue from legitimate mining,” he directed the officials.

While reviewing the DMFT (District Mineral Foundation Trust), the CM said that the DCs of all the districts should make a utilization report of the DMFT Fund being used in the mining areas, to the Development Commissioner, who has to review DMFT funds at their level. For this purpose, the Secretary of Mines and Geology department should direct the DCs on his behalf.

“Provide the status and details of use of the amount of Mineral Foundation Trust to the State Government. DMFT funds are to be spent on the development of basic facilities like water, health, education and road construction etc. Use the DMFT fund in coordinate with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation and focus on the plan to provide pure drinking water to the villages located in the mining areas,” he said.

The CM emphasized on modernising the State Zoological Laboratory in the meeting. He also directed to quickly find a way out of Diamond Mining and Gold Mining Auction in the State. While reviewing the vacancies of the Department of Mines and Geology, the Chief Minister has directed to speed up the appointment process by clearing rosters on vacant posts.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary Sukhdev Singh, Development Commissioner KK Khandelwal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Rajeev Arun Ekka, Secretary of Mines and Ghosts Department K. Srinivas, Director of Mines Department Shankar

Sinha, Director of Department of Geology Vijay Kumar and other officials of the department.