HP seeks Centre's intervention on relaxation of ban on mining

Himachal Pradesh Industries Minister, Mukesh Agnihotri today sought the intervention of the Centre for relaxing a ban on mining in riverbeds in the state.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with mining officers, the industries minister said the Centre should intervene for relaxing the blanket ban imposed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) on mining on the riverbed.
"The NGT ban and the delay in environment clearances for mining activities in general by the government of India are acting as an impediment in regulating the mining sector and the state was incurring incurring losses to the tune of crores of rupees," Agnihotri said.

The NGT had imposed ban on mining in riverbeds on August 5 last year.
Agnihotri also urged the Union government to waive the condition of environment clearance for mining leases up to two hectares as it is a very big and complex process.
"The term of the state Environment Impact Assessment Committees set up in state by the Centre has expired and the government should set up the committee again", he said.
The minister said out of the 345 mining leases allotted in the state, 166 are running, while 188 have closed down for want of environment clearances.
He said 102 crushers are also functional with local arrangement and environment clearance has been obtained in 17 cases out of which 14 were given by the state level committees and three came from the Centre.