ILLEGAL MINING ACTIVITY RAMPANT IN STATE: CAG

Violating Supreme Court’s orders against mining in the Aravali mountain range, the mines department granted, renewed and extended mining leases, points out the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report for 2017.

The report tabled in the state assembly showed that the ministry of environment and forest also granted environment clearance for mining leases, despite the area being a part of the Aravali hills.

The report said that environment issues related to mining were not accorded proper attention by the department and Rajasthan State Pollution Board.

The inspection report of the department did not focus on environmental issues. The CAG report said of the 136 leases of selected assistant mining engineers and mining engineers’ offices, the pollution board has conducted an inspection of only 38 leases between 2010 and 2017. Further, 136 leaseholders have not submitted any reports, and 118 leaseholders had not submitted the annual environment statement.

CAG observed that illegal mining activities were rampant in the state; there were inadequacies in preventive measures and in the follow-up of illegal mining cases detected. There was lack of deterrence due to delay in issue of notices raising demand and recovery of the penal amount from illegal miners. Also, there was slackness in implementing policy measures to curb illegal mining. The physical inspections revealed serious deficiencies and apathy towards the fulfilment of environmental conditions relating to topsoil, overburden dumps, plantation, construction of garland drain, air pollution control measures, noise pollution control measures, reclamation and rehabilitation measures, said the CAG report.

JAIPUR: