Minister for Industries & Commerce, Mr. Chander Parkash Ganga Saturday informed the House that allotment orders of mining rights to a non-State Subject in Jammu region have been cancelled by the Government adding the Director, Geology & Mining Department has also been placed under suspension with immediate effect.Responding to the concerns raised by various members in the House, the Minister said that the orders issued by the Director, Geology & Mining on May 12, 2016 for allotment of mining rights to non-state subject in Jammu region have been cancelled with immediate effect. “The decision in this regard has been taken for the satisfaction of the House and keeping the motto of the coalition Government of Honesty, Integrity, public probity and transparency,” Mr Ganga informed the House.
The Minister said that after the directions of Speaker, Mr. Kavinder Gupta provisions related to auction and applicability to non-locals for mining in the State should be withheld, rest of the provisions were to be kept in force so that matters related to transportation, storage and illegal mining can be regulated by the Department.
The Minister said that the High Court stay order of April 25, 2016 granting stay to auction process is being followed in letter and spirit by the Department. He said copies of the High Court order have been provided to the House Committee. He clarified that Pollution Control Board (PCB) provides consent for the activities which have been mandated under Environment Protection Act read with Air Act and Water Act. He said that consent of PCB is not issued through provisions of SRO-105.“SRO-105 does not deal with operation of Stone Crushers. There is a need for an enabling Act and Rules for regulating operation of Stone Crushers in the State,” Mr Ganga said.The Minister also read a written statement to this effect in the House.