In order to provide sand/gravel at economical prices to the people of the state, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is all set to made operational 34 commercial mining clusters in the state, said Mining and Geology Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer here on Tuesday.
“With operationalising of these new commercial mining clusters in the state, people will be able to get sand/gravel nearest to their homes,” he said, while adding that the Punjab Government has a target to operationalise 100 commercial clusters in the state.He said that the rates at commercial mining clusters will be capped at Rs 5.50 per cubic feet, which is being charged at public mining sites.
The Mining and Geology Minister, while informing that the action process of these 22 Mining clusters having quantity approx. 102 Lakhs Metric Tonne has been completed and auction of 12 Mining Clusters having quantity 21 Lakhs Metric Tonne is under process, directed all concerned DMOs to complete all the formalities at the earliest.
The Cabinet Minister was chairing a review meeting of the Mines & Geology Department at MGSIPA to take stock of the present public mining sites in the state. Currently, there are 60 public mining sites in the state. Secretary Mines and Geology Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Director Mines and Geology DPS Kharbanda, Chief Engineering Drainage-cum-Mines & Geology NK Jain and all field officers attended the meeting.
Mr Meet Hayer directed the field officers to ensure fair practices at Public Mining Sites, field officers shall ensure that if any labour coming from out of village area they shall not be stopped by the locals and if any person/customer is carrying his own labour those shall not be stopped by the locals and monopoly of any person at site should be dealt with strictly.
He also asked the concerned officials to ensure regular inspection by concerned DMOs of the public mining sites in their jurisdiction.Keeping in view the upcoming monsoon season, all DMOs were directed to earmark the agriculture Mining Sites for ensuring availability of sand to the general public.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet Minister also reviewed the action taken against the illegal mining by the field offices. All DMOs were directed to strictly deal with illegal mining and FIR/Challan should be registered against the defaulters.