Tuesday, 06 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The attempts of the State government under chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to increase revenue from the mining sector by initiating reforms, simplifying the process and starting e- tendering of mining lots have started yielding results. In the first four months (April to July) of the current financial year (2024- 25), the department has collected a revenue of Rs 333.17 crore which is 67 per cent more than the revenue collected in the corresponding period in the last financial year.
The department had collected revenue of Rs 645.42 crore in the FY 2023-24 which was Rs 173.27 crore more than the revenue collection of FY 2022-23. The department was given a target of Rs 875 crore each for the FY 2023-24 and 2022-23. In the FY 2022-23, the department had only collected revenue of Rs 472.25 crore.
The director of Mines and Geology, Rajpal Legha said that the department is working hard to achieve the revenue target set up by the State government for the FY 2024-25.
He said that the state government’s initiatives such as simplification in the Uttarakhand sub mineral extraction regulations, e-tendering and earmarking of new mining lots by following assisted e-tendering process have yielded positive results.
Legha added that the enforcement team constituted by the department also proved effective in controlling illegal mining and illegal transportation and storage of the minerals. The e -passage portal of the department is also being continuously upgraded.
The director further informed that the State government has approved setting up of 45 mining check gates under the Mining Digital Transformation and Surveillance System (MDTSS).
He said that in view of sufficient supply of raw material in stone crushers and screening plants the sub minerals such as grit, dust and sand are being sold at a rate of Rs 70 per quintal which is much less than last year when these materials were sold at Rs 140 per quintal.
