The News Craving
The Newscraving Desk
Srinagar, January 1:
The authorities will e-auction 20 new mining blocks in J&K.
This information was revealed as Secretary, Mining, Amit Sharma held a comprehensive interaction session with Mining Lessees of the Union Territory while reviewing the working of the Mining department at Udyog Bhavan. There was a broad section of lessees who attended this meeting, physically as well as through virtual mode while O.P Bhagat, Director Geology & Mining, Arun Manhas, Additional Secretary Mining, Aamir Rather, Under Secretary Mining, Nisar Ahmed and Harbans Langeh, both Joint Directors Mining and all DMOs remained present.
Secretary took a detailed review from the departmental officers regarding enhancement of revenues of the department in the upcoming last quarter through maximum royalty collection, seizures and penalties so as to supersede the already set annual targets. He disclosed that in upcoming January itself, Department is planning to e-auction at least 20 new blocks in twenty districts of the UT. Apart from this, target is on towards acquiring two major mineral blocks of Limestone and Lithium from GSI in this month which shall be a-auctioned by the department for the first time.
Amit gave a patient hearing to multiple issues of the lessees especially relating to smooth conduct of e-Challan transactions and directed that there should be two nodal officers henceforth to handle portal related issues in both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions so that the lessees can have more efficient working in mining sector times to come. He also directed that a dedicated helpline should be created for facilitating public as well as lessees in conducting mining transactions through G2B2C portal geologymining.jk.gov.in in times to come.
Several other important decisions were arrived during the meeting including holding regular interaction meeting with all the stakeholders by respective DMOs, more vigorous checking by divisional flying squads and submission of weekly progress reports to the Administrative Department, Director G&M submission of a proposal to enhance limit of Disposal Permits by the DMOs.
It was decided before the conclusion of this Meeting that Secretary Mining alongwith Director G&M shall hold similar interaction session with Lessees and all stakeholders soon in Kashmir division so that their issues can be given spot redressal soon through it. Finally, directions were given that all kinds of efforts should be made to ensure uninterrupted supply of material for the prestigious projects of National Importance like National Highways, Outer Ring Roads, Tunnels, Airport Expansion, etc.