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Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Govt cancels 1st auction of ore dumps, to alter procedure
Panaji: State govt cancelled the first auction of low-grade iron ore dumps as it decided to change the procedure for auctioning the same. Chief secretary V Candavelou, who is also mines secretary, told TOI that state govt would bring minor changes in the dump policy to change the procedure of auction. After completing the first day of e-auctioning low-grade iron ore dumps, the directorate of mines and geology (DMG) cancelled the remaining three phases of auctions of dumps that were scheduled for Jan 31 and Feb 3 and 4 due to a 'technical issue'. The auctions were subsequently cancelled. The Supreme Court allowed Goa govt to carry out dump mining activity in the state in accordance with an expert committee's report. Accordingly, the policy for regulating iron ore dump handling was notified on Sep 14, 2023. The dump handling policy, 2023, paved the way to deal with the 700 million tonnes of low-grade iron ore lying inside and outside mining leases across Goa, and to export 25 million tonnes per annum. The DMG conducted the first auction for four dumps, and bids were accepted only for three dumps. Due to a technical reason, the auction of one dump did not start. State govt put 18 low-grade iron ore dumps up for auction. Goa Foundation said that the DMG should cancel the auctions and re-conduct them after first granting a proper mining lease and obtaining all necessary approvals, as required by the expert committee on dumps and the various provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. State govt received 125 bids for the 18 dumps that were put up for auction. A total of 173 mining companies and traders showed interest in purchasing them. Govt fixed a reserve price of 22% for the first e-auction of low-grade iron ore dumps in the state. If the Indian Bureau of Mines' price is Rs 100 per tonne for low-grade iron ore and the mining companies purchase the ore at auction at the 22% reserve price, the companies must pay Rs 22 per tonne to govt. Govt also fixed the criteria for traders and mining companies to participate in the e-auction — the bidders should have a minimum net worth of Rs 25 crore. Govt put up the 18 low-grade iron ore dumps with a total quantity of around 30 million tonnes for auction. Up to 25 million tonnes of ore from dump handling can be exported. Of the 18 dumps, 15 are in South Goa. A senior official said that the dump handling policy was challenged in court. Recently, state cabinet amended the dump mining policy to allow erstwhile leaseholders to handle the low-grade iron ore dumped by them in another mining lease that was never operated.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Indian Express
As blasting continues unabated in Aravallis, Nuh administration lodges FIR, orders border demarcation
The sub-divisional magistrate of Nuh in Haryana said Tuesday they have filed a complaint, and ordered round-the-clock patrolling through a newly-established temporary police post after receiving complaints of ongoing blasting work by illegal miners at the Aravallis. Laxmi Narayan, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, told The Indian Express he reached the site on June 27 with officials from the State Enforcement Bureau after receiving complaints from the Pathrili village. The village is located on the border of Haryana and Rajasthan. While Rajasthan allows mining via leases, all such activities have been banned in Haryana by the Supreme Court. The official said the alleged illegal miners fled with their machinery by the time the team reached, but they saw some of the trucks that had damaged substantial hillocks in the protected Aravallis. Speaking with The Indian Express, the SDM said, 'We will take strict action against all those responsible. An FIR was filed over the weekend. I have ordered that a fresh and clear demarcation of the border be done by the mining department by erecting new pillars and signboards. We will assess and know the full damage done thereafter.' He said the First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against unknown persons under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act. Mining in the Aravalli region in the Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Nuh districts has been prohibited by the Supreme Court since 2002. In May, the Supreme Court had taken exception to the Haryana Government's alleged inaction against illegal mining in the Aravallis in Nuh. The top court had noted that the mining mafia in the region seemed to be protecting the errant officials aiding the illegalities. The apex court sought a detailed report from the Haryana Government by July 15, and said it found the chief secretary's affidavit evasive and insufficient for shifting the onus to the forest department. In June, the Haryana Government began efforts to restore 25,000 hectares of degraded forest area in the Aravallis — long been hailed as the 'lungs' of the National Capital Region (NCR). The Aravalli range passes through Gurgaon, Nuh, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Mahendergarh, and Charkhi Dadri districts of Haryana. Nuh has the largest recorded forest area among these, with 14,606 hectares. The range, which extends from Southwest Gujarat in Champaner to Northeast Delhi and Haryana, acts as a natural barrier against incursion of sand, loo, and dust from the Thar desert.
Hindustan Times
05-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
1 held for rebuilding illegal stretch of road in Aravallis
The Nuh police booked two men and arrested one of them on Wednesday, for allegedly attempting to rebuild a road in Basai Meo village in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli hills, police officials said. The 1.5 km-long illegal stretch had earlier been razed on the orders of Nuh deputy commissioner Vishram Kumar Meena, following directions from the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), officials said. The police identified the arrested man as Saikul Khan, a resident of Basai Meo village, in Ferozepur Jhirka. His accomplice, Mohammad Ali, is currently at large, police said. Khan was arrested on Wednesday after forest beat staff on night patrol caught the duo allegedly cutting rocks and refilling the pathway through the Aravalli forests. A complaint was immediately filed by the forest department, triggering legal action. 'These are clear attempts to subvert forest protection and facilitate illegal access for mining. We acted promptly and will not tolerate such violations,' said Vineet Kumar Garg, principal chief conservator of forests, Haryana. The accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Charges under Sections 33 and 32 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, have also been invoked on June 2, police said. Khan is being interrogated to know the extent of the network behind the attempt to rebuild the road and to identify any possible handlers, police said. 'We are actively patrolling all vulnerable points and are working closely with panchayats and the forest department to prevent further violations,' said Rajesh Kumar, superintendent of police, Nuh. He added that the local vigilance unit in Gurugram is also investigating the matter. The road in question, had originally been constructed illegally through protected Aravalli forest land in Basai Meo village. Following a Supreme Court petition, the CEC submitted a report confirming the violation, which led to the suspension of the village sarpanch earlier this year. The Haryana chief secretary later, admitted in an affidavit, to the apex court that the forest department had failed to take action, triggering criticism from environmental groups. 'The Aravallis are not just ancient hills—they are the lungs of North India,' said environmental activist Vaishali Rana. 'Every tree felled and every illegal encroachment weakens our ecological future. Roads through these hills, are not only illegal but also fragment a critical eco-sensitive zone.' According to forest officials, the department had blocked the illegal path in January this year to halt mining and encroachment. FIRs were also registered against three revenue officials for facilitating the illegal construction, but follow-up enforcement has been slow. The recent arrest underlines a growing pattern of violations and delayed deterrence in the Aravallis. Despite monitoring by the top court, activists and officials say illegal road construction, tree felling and land encroachments continue to threaten the already degraded forest range, which plays a vital role in groundwater recharge, biodiversity conservation, and climate regulation in the region. A survey of the disputed pathways in Basai Meo village has begun under the supervision of a senior vigilance officer, following directives from the Supreme Court. The exercise will demarcate the Aravalli terrain and Panchayat land on both sides of these routes. The paths cut through the Aravalli terrain and were allegedly built to enable illegal mining operations.
New Indian Express
26-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Madras High Court slams ex-Geology chief for illegal revival of mining licence
CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has severely criticised an IAS officer, who had served as Commissioner of Geology and Mining, for issuing a 'completely fraudulent, aberrational and unconscionably illegal' order to revoke the temporary suspension of quarrying licence of a lease holder in Tiruppur district, who was slapped with a meagre penalty of Rs 10.40 crore for illegal mining, without following due legal procedures. The officer, J Jayakanthan, is currently serving as secretary of water resources department. He had, in his capacity as Commissioner of Geology and Mining in 2022, revoked the suspension of licence and permitted lease holder R Ramakrishnan to resume mining operations by paying an initial fine of Rs 30 lakh and the remaining amount in instalments. Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy, in a recent judgment, remarked, 'In any event, the order of the second respondent is completely fraudulent, aberrational and unconscionably illegal and it is an affront to the environment as well as to the entire set of judgments of the Supreme Court of India on the matter. This course of action is taken to defraud the government of a significant sum of money, certainly more than Rs 78 crore.' The orders were passed on a petition filed by Ramakrishnan praying for quashing the December 6, 2024 GO issued by the secretary of natural resources department to set aside the GO issued by Jayakanthan dated September 26, 2022. Ramakrishnan was found to have illegally mined 39,405 cubic metres of topsoil and weathered rock, 25 times more than the permitted level of 1,575 cbms. The illegal mining of rough stones accounts for 3, 21, 811 cbms. He was also found to have committed similar offences in another quarry for which the licence had already expired. The respondents, including P Vijayakumar, an affected farmer and R Sathish Kumar, of Tamilaga Vivasayigal Pathukappu Sangam, submitted that the total fine for the illegal minerals would work out to a minimum of Rs 84 crore and maximum of Rs 180 crore. However, the then commissioner had let the lease holder off by slapping a meagre Rs 10.40 crore by flouting the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Minor Minerals Concession Rules and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, they submitted. Refusing to quash the order of the secretary of the natural resources department, the judge directed the jurisdictional sub-collector to file a private complaint initiating prosecution (criminal action) against the accused persons for committing the violations. He directed the secretary of natural resources department to issue notice to the lease holder over premature termination of the existing lease agreement and for recovery of the value of the minerals with appropriate penalty for seigniorage fee.
