SAROOR
JAMMU: As mining has become legalised after e-auction, the River Tawi bed alone will add on around 200 crores rupees every year to the state exchequer.
The mining legally for construction material has been permitted after a gap of seven years in the River Tawi for which 32 minor mineral blocks are identified in the bed, out of which approval has been sanctioned to seven blocks through single window system (e-auction)
“Due to illegal mining for the past few years in the River Tawi, the rates of sand, gravel, stone and related construction material has increased manifold but with mining becoming a legalised exercise after e-auction of seven blocks as of now, the rates will definitely be fixed by the administration thus relieving people,” said an official in the administration.
He stated that the mining earlier was allowed only for the construction of government buildings, adding, “the administration has gradually started permitting the contractors through e-auction bidding following which the required raw material will also be available in the market.”
Notably, the district e-Auction committee, under the Chairpersonship of Deputy Commissioner Avny Lavasa has recently conducted the e-Auction successfully of three minor mineral blocks located in Tawi river, which were notified on May 4.
Sources further said that Rs 15 crores revenue was generated from lone one H1 bidder while additional revenue of Rs 40 crores was generated the other three, which is the highest ever recorded revenue for any minor mineral block in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pertinent to mention here that on November 17, 2016, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court had imposed a complete ban on mining from the Tawi river on a PIL seeking to stop encroachment on the banks. Since then the Jammu city was dependent on the neighbouring districts for construction materials.
“In August 2022, nearly after six years, the High Court lifted the ban on mining from Tawi river and allowed the government to issue contracts for mining as per rules,” sources added and said that after signalled green from the High Court, the mining department initiated the process and identified 32 blocks for mining of minor minerals from Tawi river, whose auction is already in process.
Official sources further added that the Tawi river has been divided into 32 blocks by the Geology and Mining Department, adding, “during the e-auction, bids of Rs 5 to 7 crore are expected for each block and so far, the government has generated a revenue of Rs 55 crore from the auction.”
“Earlier, the auction was also not allowed in the blocks adjoining military areas,” sources added and said, “the department has now been permitted to award mining contracts in the entire River Tawi after almost seven years, the revenue receipts, which was around Rs 30 to 50 crore at present, likely expected to generate a revenue of Rs 150 to 200 crore every year after e-auction.”
“The e-Auctioning of blocks will help in providing important minor minerals to the general public at reasonable rates and further pace up the execution of various governmental projects under going construction in Jammu and adjoining Districts,” they added.
Sources also revealed that a friendly mobile application will also be launched to facilitate the public to avail online mining services.
“Soon, an exclusive mobile friendly application shall be available with both android and iOS interfaces so as to give added convenience to the public and stakeholders for provisioning online services of the mining sector in a dedicated manner,” they said.
Jammu and Kashmir Secretary, Mining, Amit Sharma has also assured the executing agencies for the prestigious Projects of national importance that requisite mining materials shall be supplied uninterruptedly but at the same time, executing agencies also must ensure that they take mining related materials from legal sources only.
“It can also be accessed at geologymining.jk.gov.in with e-Challan as the basis of same with online payment and choice-based selection of supplier for purchase of raw materials which has been created on the pattern of popular Amazon and Flipkart e-marketplaces,” sources maintained.
Sharma also emphasised on evolving POS based penalty toward illegal mining across the Union Territory.
