Resolved to curb illegal mining and to have the mining process conducted through scientific method, the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has issued some directions, informed the mining officials.
The stress is on applying e-system to ensure that the mined materials are transported in tune with the norms, added the officials.
Secretary Mining, Shailesh Bagoli informed that considering lack of internet facilities near the mining areas located in the hills, the state government has asked the mining traders to issue E-Rawanna where internet facilities are available. The mining traders would send SMSs to the transporters involved in transporting the mined materials with the SMSs containing all the required information about E-Rawanna. The drivers would accordingly show such SMSs to the checking parties en route their destinations.
Secretary Mining further apprised that E-Rawanna system is being monitored constantly with the software being made more and more practical and result-oriented. More modern technology is being used to conduct the processes of mining, he said, adding that a control room is now functioning as a temporary office at a hotel in Dehradun to resolve the grievances among the mining traders under the E-Rawanna system. Helpline numbers of above said control room are 8192802345 and 8192802320 and Email ID is erawannahlpline@gmail.com.
He further said that the volume of revenue collected from mining has reached up to Rs 335 crores during of 2016-17 thanks to the serious efforts of the state government. “It is 25 percent more than what was collected last year. Encouraged by the surge, the government has set a target meant to exceed Rs 550 crores for the current financial year,” he said.
He stated that the state government has prepared an Android Mobile Application named Mining Guard to sort out the grievances regarding duplicate E-Rawanna and to have E-Rawanna scanned from time to time. “The Android being put in Google Play Store, any official, employee or even a common man can download the application easily,” he added.
Bagoli explained that while the vehicle number is typed on the said online mobile application it would show all the information regarding E-Rawanna, including whether E-Rawanna is issued for a particular time and whether the vehicle possesses the required clearance for transporting mining materials. “It would make things easier for us to check easily with the actual data,” he said, adding that the SMS facility is coming handy in the difficult hilly terrain to check the Rawannas.
He further said that an online payment system along with treasury challan system to deposit royalty is all set to be started for the mining traders soon. “Besides, the online data sharing scheme involving Sales Tax and Treasury departments is being developed in coordination with the Transport and Income Tax departments,” Bagoli informed.
“This aside, Jio Informatics Cell has been constituted by the state government to control illegal mining and to ensure right kind of transportation and storage of mines,” he said, adding that GIS maps are being prepared involving the entire mining areas under the initiative.