Encourage m sand, preserve the ecology of the river system: Chief Minister Yogi
Lucknow (IANS). Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday conducted a high-level review of the works of Geology and Mining Department and gave necessary guidelines to the officials. During this, he also gave instructions to further reduce the time taken for the replenishment study of rivers.
Along with this, emphasis was laid on increasing the production of M sand, so that the adverse effect on the ecology of the rivers can be reduced. He also observed the presentation of the department.
The Chief Minister said that by complying with the orders of the NGT, the work of dredging the rivers of the state should be completed at any cost. Apart from solving the problem of floods, this will also help in channelizing the rivers. The Chief Minister asked the Mining and Irrigation Department to prepare a detailed action plan together.
Apart from this, he also gave instructions to increase mineral production by identifying new mining blocks in the state. The Chief Minister laid special emphasis on the fact that instead of extracting soil from fertile land for brick production in the state, alternate sources should be identified and brick kilns should be encouraged for the same.
The Chief Minister directed to encourage em sand and said that it would help in preserving the ecology of the river system. During the review meeting with Chief Secretary, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary Forest, Chief Secretary Mining and other officers, the Chief Minister laid special emphasis on increasing mining leases in the state.
He said that the department should make serious efforts to provide environmental NOC soon. He directed to curb illegal mining at all costs and to make the Integrated Mining Surveillance System more effective.
The Chief Minister said that special monitoring should be done during the transportation of sand, moram, boulder and other minerals using technology at 39 check gates working in various border districts of the state. Overloading should be stopped at all costs. Along with this, the number of check gates should also be increased.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to fix the price of minerals according to the market price. Apart from this, instructions were also given to make necessary changes in the policies for the auction of major blocks. To speed up the development works of the state, the Chief Minister also emphasized on making available the alternative of sand and moram in future.
CM Yogi gave instructions to the officials regarding simplification of the process to approve more and more new storage in the state. Also asked the officials to fix storage period for different minor minerals.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that 19 blocks of phosphorite, potash, iron, platinum group, gold metal, sillimanite, adalusite and limestone are ready for auction in the state. Apart from this, in the financial year 2022-23, 6762 lakh cubic meters of secondary minerals have been produced in the state, from which a revenue of Rs 3367.26 crore has been received.
Apart from this, the revenue receipt for the first quarter of the financial year 2023-24 is 95.6 percent i.e. Rs 1093.6 crore, which is Rs 356.6 crore more than the first quarter of last year. The contribution of minor minerals in the state’s mineral revenue is 70 percent. In this, ordinary sand, moram, ballast, boulder contribute about 91 percent of the secondary mineral resources.
