looking at the controversy over the management of sand ghats, the State Cabinet on Friday gave its nod to notifying Jharkhand State Sand Mining Policy 2017, according to which the rural sand ghats under a particular category would be fully managed by local self governance and the Government will not lease them for mining.
A total of 11 proposals were passed during a Cabinet meeting.
“After the decision taken by the State Cabinet, all Sand ghats in the State will now be divided into two categories. In the first category, management of sand ghats will be done by gram panchayats under local self Government and such mines will never be given on any kind of lease but will be kept free for non-commercial purposes or for developmental schemes of the State Government,” said Cabinet Secretary SS Meena.
Management of the sand ghats of second category, on the other hand, will be done by the State Government through Jharkhand Minerals Development Corporation (JSMDC) limited for commercial purposes, he added.
Small ghats have been kept in the first category while large sand mines deposits have been kept in the second category.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the JSMDC may outsource the mining activity to private parties of which the corporation will get 15 per cent commission on the total expenses.
“The permit has to be taken online and the money will also be deposited online. The State will also develop stock yards from where the stand could be lifted through GPS enabled vehicles,” said Meena.
Meena said that there were 170 unsettled sand ghats against 440 settled ghats in the State.
In another decision, the State Cabinet also gave its approval to a proposal of the Department of Industry and Geology department to include a new head under revenue receipt in the integrated application form to be submitted at the Single Window System.
“Under the ease of doing business, clearance, which earlier needed to be taken from different departments, will now be given from a single window,” said Meena.
The Cabinet also okayed the format of ‘Common Incentive Disbursement Guidelines’ for providing financial incentives and concessions for different schemes in different departments.
A proposal for recommending the Government of India to name ‘Bhangi’ or ‘Mehtar’ castes to ‘Balmiki’ in the light of the recommendations made by Jharkhand Tribal Welfare Research Institute was also approved by the State Cabinet.
In other decisions, the State Cabinet also gave its approval to declare Mango Notified Area as Mango Municipal Corporation and Jugsalai Municipal Council as Jugsalai Municipal Corporation.