After failing to control illegal mining in the State, Himachal Government on Tuesday decided to go for open auction of all quarry sites.
“Not only would it check illegal mining activities, it would also bring down prices of sand and grit in the State,” Industry Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said after presiding over a meeting to take policy decision.
Starting with auction of 30 mines in Una district, the decision to auction all quarries, be they along river beds or on Government and forest lands, would then be followed up by doing so in Hamirpur and Kangra districts, the Minister stated.
He said that mining plans were being prepared in a phased manner for other parts of the State. The lease would be valid for 20 years so that right-holders could derive maximum benefit from the quarries.
This would also provide a right to the lease-holder to ensure scientifically mining on such land, said Agnihotri. After terminating the lease periods of all old quarries, they too would be auctioned through open auction only, said Agnihotri.
The Mining and Industry department would be permitted to use their mineral resources in their open market or at their own crashers, but they would not be allowed to sell it to other crushers.