J-K mulling over giving mining permissions to panchayats - watsupptoday.com
J-K mulling over giving mining permissions to panchayats
Posted 08 Jul 2020 05:29 PM

Image Source: jk information


J-K mulling over giving mining permissions to panchayats

| Jammu |

The Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam on Wednesday asked commissioner-cum-secretary of Industries & Commerce department of J&K to examine and submit a proposal regarding possible devolution of mining rights to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on land under their jurisdiction through short term permits.
The decision is aimed at empowering PRIs to raise funds through mining surpluses and address shortage of key construction material in local market, besides keeping a check on their prices.
The industries department has also been instructed that the framework for extraction procedure under local self governance mechanism, along-with sharing of revenue between Geology & Mining Department and PRIs may also be worked out.
The development took place while the CS was chairing a meeting at Srinagar. Administrative Secretaries of departments of Industries & Commerce, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, along with HoDs of Geology & Mining, Ecology, Environment & Remote Sensing and Pollution Control Board, were present in the meeting.
Further, Administrative Secretary, Industries & Commerce, was asked to identify 100 locations where PRIs could be given rights for STPs and the department can apply for various permits and clearances on behalf of PRIs, besides providing them logistic support on a pilot basis.
Moreover, the department was instructed to expedite approval of mining plans in all e-auctioned blocks by 20th July, 2020. Ecology & Environment Department and Pollution Control Board were directed to expedite clearances within the rules.
Similarly, Geology & Mining Department was instructed to forward mining projects of 2nd phase auction for environmental clearance by 31st July, 2020.
The Chief Secretary urged Industries Department to consider streamlining of mining auction to stabilize sale prices of minor minerals by developing a long term price fixation mechanism.
Regarding simplification of process of obtaining environmental clearances, Chief Secretary directed Administrative Secretary, Forest to examine the matter and revisit the checklist of required documentation and keep it to the minimum required by law.

Leave a comment: (Your email will not be published)