Illegal mining activites rose 4.2% in 2012-13

Modi's government highest fine collector among all the states

While there is a furor over the suspension of IAS officer Durga Shakti in the sand mining case, latest figures show that illegal mining activities in the country has increased over a period of time. The cases of illegal mining rose 4.2 per cent in 2012-13 to 98,597 against 94,604 in 2011-12, the Parliament was informed today.

However, the rate of increase was less than that in the previous year when there was a 21 per cent rise in the cases of unlawful mining to 94,604 from 78,189 in 2010-11.

Among states, Maharashtra constituted 43 per cent of the total mining cases in India as 42,918 incidents of illegal mining were detected in the state. This was followed by Andhra Pradesh, which saw 16,592 illegal mining cases in 2012-13.

Experts tracking the sector believe that there is a surge in illegal mining due to vested interest of politicians. “Illegal mining in Goa and Karnataka took place due to the interest of politicians. Politicians get involved, bureaucrats fall in line and people are forced to participate in illegal mining activities”, said R K Sharma, secretary general, Federation of Indian Mineral Industries.

As a result of these unlawful activities, Sharma added, there is a loss of thousands of crores to both state and central government in terms of revenue.

Many states saw a sharp rise in the cases of illegal mining. For instance, the incidents of illegal mining almost doubled in Gujarat, as the number of cases rose to 6,023 in 2012-13 from 3,483 a year ago. Also, in Tamil Nadu the illegal mining cases rose to 295 from 123 in this phase, which is more than double.

However, in Uttar Pradesh which is making headlines for the illegal sand mining cases, there was a significant decline in illegal cases to 3266 in 2012-13 from 4,708 in 2011-12.

Not only this, between 2010-11 and 2012-13, fine to the tune of Rs 94,354 lakh was realized by the state governments and in this regard, Gujarat toppled the other states as the highest amount of Rs 41,944 lakh was collected by Narendra Modi’s government, which constitutes 44 per cent of the total amount.

Last year, owing to illegal activities the state governments had banned mining in Goa and two years back in Karnataka, but the Supreme Court had lifted ban on several mines in the southern state later on. Meanwhile, no cases of such activities was detected in Goa, however, in Karnataka the cases of illegal mining were 6677 in 2012-13 declining slightly from 6691 in 2011-12.

Nagpal was suspended last month after the IAS officer ordered villagers in Uttar Pradesh to pull down a wall of a mosque complex being built on the government land.