Despite the crisis of Covid-19, Haryana Government has received revenue of Rs 1,022.63 crore from mining operations during financial year 2020-21, which is 31 per cent more than the previous financial year, the state’s Mines and Geology Minister Mool Chand Sharma said on Friday.
The Minister said that stringent steps taken against the mining mafia in the state have started showing results.
“Just as the Coronavirus pandemic has affected the entire world, it also affected the mining activities as well. Though no mining work was done for 26 days due to the lockdown last year, getting revenue of Rs 1,022.63 crore is commendable. This is the first time in the history of the Department, when the revenue from mining works has crossed the Rs 1,000 crore mark,” he said.
Sharma said that during the year 2019-20, the revenue from mining works was Rs 702.25 crore whereas during 2018-19, revenue was Rs 583.21 crore.
The Minister said that the State Government aims to ensure availability of construction material at reasonable prices for the common man in the state, and also to curb illegal mining. The government has taken stringent steps to bring illegal mining to zero level so as to prevent loss of revenue to the exchequer.
He informed that the monitoring and survey system has been enhanced at every level in the Department. The disposal of pending appeals at the government level has been expedited. In addition, there is a focus on recovery of arrears on behalf of contractors and lease holders, the Minister added.
Sharma said that a Special Enforcement Team (SET) consisting of 55 police officers and employees of the Department has been constituted to prevent illegal mining in the state.