Lucknow, Aug 3 (Representative) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Thursday that there is a need to increase mineral production by marking new mining blocks while emphasising on increasing the production of M-sand to minimise the adverse environmental impact on rivers.During a high-level meeting with the officials of the Geology and Mining Department, the CM reviewed the functioning of the department and issued necessary directives. He also examined the presentations made by officials of the department. The CM said that dredging the rivers in the state has to be completed on time while complying with the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as it will not only solve the problem of floods, but will also help in channelising the rivers. He directed the Mining and Irrigation Department to prepare a comprehensive action plan together. He gave directives to identify new blocks for mining in the state to increase mineral production.Yogi laid special emphasis on finding alternative resources and setting up brick kilns, instead of extracting soil from fertile land for brick production in the state.
He stressed upon the need for increasing mining leases in the state. He directed the authorities concerned, including the Chief Secretary, Infrastructure and Industrial Development Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) and Additional Chief Secretary (Mining), to make serious efforts in providing environmental no objection certificates (NOCs) promptly. The CM directed the officials to take stringent action against illegal mining and make the Integrated Mining Surveillance System more effective. He stated that 39 checkpoints in various bordering districts of the state should use technical means to monitor the transportation of minerals, such as sand, morang (fine sand), boulders and others, to ensure proper handling during transportation. He said overloading must be strictly prohibited and the number of checkpoints should be increased. The officials were directed to determine the prices of minerals based on market rates. Yogi also directed the officials to make necessary changes in policies for the auction of major mining blocks. He issued directives to reduce the time required for river replenishment studies. He directed the officials to simplify the process for approving new storage facilities in the state.
He also asked them to determine the storage period for different minor minerals separately. The officials informed the CM that the state is ready with 19 blocks for the auction of minerals such as phosphorite, potash, iron, platinum group, gold metals, sillimanite, andalusite and limestone. It was stated that during the financial year 2022-23, the state produced 6,762 lakh cubic meters of minor minerals, generating revenue of Rs 3,367.26 crore. In the first quarter of the financial year 2023-24, revenue collection stands at Rs 1,093.6 crore, which is 95.6 percent higher compared to the revenue in the same period of the previous year, depicting an increase of Rs 356.6 crore. The contribution of minor minerals in the state’s mining revenue is 70 percent, of which resources like ordinary sand, moram, grit, and boulders contribute approximately 91 per cent.