Minister for Industries and Commerce, Chander Parkash Ganga today visited Parlanka, a hilly location in the district to inaugurate work of Gypsum mining.The minister while inaugurating the project directed the officers of JK Minerals for taking all requisite measures for smooth extraction works like marking of mine face, dumping area and other facilities including weighing of Gypsum mineral at mine site.Calling it a white Gold of the area, the Minister said that this project will prove as one of the biggest employment generating industry in the state and the gypsum extracted from this site will surely give a boost to the industrial sector in the state.
While responding to the demand presented by the locals, the minister asked Director JK Minerals for providing employment opportunities to one person of all families residing near to the mine site.He appreciated the efforts of JK Minerals and SICOP for putting in sincere efforts to make the project functional after constructing the link road from Dharam Kund to the Parlanka, excavation site of Gypsum.Congratulating the labourers on World Labour Day, the Minister gave assurance for enhancing their wages with medical insurance cover after linking it with various schemes of the State and Centre.
While speaking on the issue of regularization of contractual labourers, he said that the Government is serious towards the issue and will look into it accordingly.Pointing to the role of contractors, the minister said that machinery and equipments should be used in a proper way keeping in view safety of mining operations and local environment.The minister further emphasized for taking necessary precautions as already approved in mining plan to ensure the safety of men, material and ecology in the mining area Elaborating on the expansion of industrial sector, the Minister said that various initiatives have already been taken by the State Government to boost the industrial growth in all the districts pushing them towards holistic development of under developed regions and prosperity of local people. He said that the government is committed to establish Industrial Estates in all the districts of the state to develop Industrial sector.Meanwhile, Locals from the area also raised their demands like land compensation on revised rates, medical facilities, rehabilitation of land losers, separate colonies for labourers working with the corporation, payment of different allowances, improved rent for land occupied by the corporation, doubling of labour rates and availability of ambulance service.
Earlier, Managing Director JK Minerals informed that around 10.16 million tones of Gypsum reserve are available in the area.Further, it was informed that the entire mining area has been divided into four sectors- Parlanka, Teli Parlanka, Chinjar Teli and Thalwa Chinjar all potentially designed to produce 120000 tonnes of Gypsum per annum in which Parlanka sector alone carries a life span of around 41 years at the envisaged level of production. The Minister was accompanied by District Development Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz and Senior Superintendent of Police Ramban.Among others present on the occasion were Managing Director JK Minerals Abid Suhail, MD JK cements Atul Sharma, Director Geology and Mining F.A. Khan and other officers.