UP mining department target pegged at Rs 900 cr

Illegal mining eating into revenue potential

Uttar Pradesh government has pegged the annual revenue target of mining and minerals department at Rs 900 crore for the current financial year.

During May 2011, the department earned revenues of Rs 97 crore against the monthly target of Rs 135 crore.

To boost revenues, the department is gearing up to put a tab on illegal mining operations and subsequent smuggling of minerals.

Illegal mining operations are carried out by local mafia elements in connivance with corrupt officials and are eating into official revenue potential.

State mining and mineral minister Inderjeet Saroj today directed department mandarins to identify concerned officials and take strict action for revenue shortfall. The minister, who was reviewing the department progress here, asked officials to prepare a roadmap for achieving the target.

 

Saroj also holds the portfolios of social welfare, integrated child development and agricultural marketing in Uttar Pradesh.

For sand mining permits and lease, physical verification has been made compulsory.

Meanwhile, the districts, who have achieved less than 60 per cent of their targets have been asked to speed up their efforts and review their progress weekly.

Eleven districts viz. Sonebhadra, Gautam Budh Nagar, Kaushambi, Etah, Banda, Maharajganj, Saharanpur, Siddharth Nagar, Kushi Nagar, Rampur and Kanpur had outperformed their official targets.

The mining and mineral department is a plum portfolio and was earlier held by chief minister Mayawati’s close confidante Babu Singh Kushwaha. He lost the ministry in a reshuffle in April 2011.