States » North


HP govt to make changes in mining policy: CM Sukhu

HP govt to make changes in mining policy: CM Sukhu

Shimla, Mar 28 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said that the state government is ready to make necessary amendments to the mining policy and will also seek the opinion of MLAs in this regard.
Announcing this in the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday, he disclosed that the state earns Rs 400 crore from mining, which will be increased to Rs 1,000 crore.
He was speaking while intervening in response to the original question of MLA Dr Janak Raj. MLAs Sanjay Awasthi and Neeraj Nayyar also asked supplementary questions on the issue.
The Chief Minister said that the wealth of the state should not be allowed to be looted.
“If there has been any mistake in the previous cases, it will be rectified, and we will work on how to take back the wealth,” he said.
Earlier, during the Question Hour, Dr Janak Raj said that there is a plan to give 165 bighas of land to a person in Chamba district without an auction, whereas, according to the mining policy, more than 5 bighas of government land cannot be allotted without an auction. However, this land is being given on lease without an auction.
At this, Industry Minister Harsh Vardhan Chauhan said that this matter was related to the year 2015.
He said that the application for this lease was submitted in 2015, and after obtaining environmental clearance, the LOI was issued in 2016, followed by further proceedings.
He said this lease was cancelled after the change of power and that since 2018, the government has not allocated any government land on lease for mining without an auction.
He said that in 2021, the Government of India granted its forest NOC, and more than Rs 58 lakh has been deposited for it.
The industry minister said that since 2018, the practice of leasing more than five bighas of land for mining has been stopped.
He said this matter was approved since it came up before 2018.
UNI XC GNK

More News

Himachal: Six JBT teachers suspended for misconduct, unauthorized absence

27 Apr 2025 | 1:43 AM

Shimla, Apr 26 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government has suspended six Junior Basic Training (JBT) teachers across the state for alleged gross misconduct, including absence from duty and participation in protests against government policies.

see more..

Himachal: Collector orders correction in Shajra Nasab record of Kanaura tribe

27 Apr 2025 | 1:26 AM

Kinnaur, Apr 26 (UNI) District collector Dr Amit Kumar Sharma on Saturday ordered correction of clerical errors in "Shajra Nasab" Records under Section 38-A of the Himachal Pradesh (HP) Land Revenue Act, 1954.

see more..

Fire destroys Gujjar camps in Himachal's Gondpur, leaving families homeless

27 Apr 2025 | 12:04 AM

Nahan, Apr 26 (UNI) A devastating fire broke out at the Gondpur Industrial Area in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district, causing extensive damage to the camps of the nomadic Gujjar community.

see more..

Two JBT teachers suspended for unauthorised absence from school

26 Apr 2025 | 11:28 PM

Shimla, Apr 26 (UNI) In strict action against dereliction of duty, two Junior Basic Training (JBT) teachers from Government Primary School (GPS) Shilal, under the Education Block Kupvi in District Shimla, have been suspended with immediate effect.

see more..

Teachers’ indefinite strike in Himachal escalates over Education Directorate merger

26 Apr 2025 | 11:22 PM

Shimla, Apr 26 (UNI) The standoff between the Himachal government and protesting teachers appears to be intensifying, with preparations underway for strict action against teachers who staged a sit-in protest in Shimla against the reorganisation of the Directorate of Education.

see more..