The government has already represented to the Centre that such large tracts of land for mining activities in Himachal, where mining is “almost on cottage industry level”, will not be available due to geographical conditions and such a restriction will encourage illegal mining.
“However, the state’s reservation and recommendation has so far not found favour with the Centre .We had asked for setting the minimum limit at one hectare,” says State Geologist Arun Sharma.
He says the scale of mining in Himachal can be gauged from the fact that the state has till now granted mining lease on a total of about 26,000 square metres only.
Controller General, Indian Bureau of Mining (IBM), C S Gundeswar, however, says the states where shortage of land is a problem, too, have a remedy in the proposed Act.
“In case the required condition of land is not fulfilled by any state, representation on case basis can be made for relaxation to the Central government. The provision of minimum five hectares of land has been made on basis of observations that how much minimum land is required for various activities integrated with the mining plan, like dumping, afforestation, storage of minerals and transportation,” he adds.
Gundeswar was in Shimla on the launch of ‘Prevention of Illegal Mining Fortnight’.
Controller of Mines, Dehradun Region (covering Himachal), J R Chaudhary opines: “Another option to overcome the hurdle of land shortage in states like Himachal, keeping in view the new amendment, could be by floating cooperative societies combining lease bids of various applicants so that total area sums up to five hectares.”
The IBM has launched a fortnight long awareness activities in Himachal for the public and those involved in mining on issues such as mining without lease, encroachment outside leased area, checks in forest areas and transportation and export of illegally mined minerals.