Chhattisgarh: Measures to curb illegal mining not followed, says CAG report; asks government to increase monitoring

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Chhattisgarh Assembly on Friday said prescribed measures to curb illegal mining activities were not complied with in the state. The CAG report on 'performance audit of mining of minor minerals with emphasis on illegal mining operations' also stated that the cases of illegal excavation, transportation and storage of minerals increased from 3,756in 2015-16 to 5,410 in 2020-21.

The report, which was tabled by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, said the state's mining department should ensure regular inspection of mines as per prescribed norms by ensuring adequate manpower and maintenance of proper inspection records.Chhattisgarh is a leading producer of major minerals such as coal, iron ore and dolomite and has considerable reserves of bauxite, limestone and quartzite, the report said. There are 37 types of minor minerals found in the state, and as on April 1, 2021, a total 1,957 minor mineral quarry leases were sanctioned, the CAG report informed.

The royalty received by the state government from minor minerals between 2015-16 and 2020-21 was Rs 1,438.67 crore, which was 4.70 percent of the total revenue receipts of Rs 30,606.89 crore from mining, it said. The report said audit had observed that the existing control measures prescribed by the mining department to curb illegal mining activities were not being complied with.

«There was absence of comprehensive database of quarry leases. Boundary pillars/boundary marks to indicate the demarcation of the quarry lease area were missing.

This had resulted in non-identification of quarrying activities beyond the sanctioned lease areas,» the report said. «The number of check posts established to curb illegal transportation of minerals was found inadequate, while the established check