Bilaspur: As per the instruction from Bilaspur Collector Avneesh Sharan, the Mineral Department team in Bilaspur visited the area of operation in Jondhara village, Masturi Tehsil, to investigate the illegal expanses of stored mineral sand. Speaking about the investigation findings, the quantity of sand stored by Hyva trucks, or 1440 cubic meters, was discovered to belong to Ashok Karsh, who resides in Akaltara and has about 120 such trucks. Likewise, in the storage area approved for Messrs Suman Enterprises, owned and managed by Jitendra Singh, proprietor, about 200 Hyva trucks or 2400 cubic meters of sand were found stacked.
In both scenarios, mining department officials informed the commission that no legal documents were provided to support the storage licenses or to let sand storage be legal. Thus, cases were registered for violation of the Chhattisgarh Minor Mineral Rules 2015 Rule 71 and Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and Chhattisgarh Minerals (Mining, Transportation, and Storage) Rules 2009. The stored mineral sand was seized, and the illegal stores were asked to produce the required document per Rule 4 within three working days.
Notably, seven license holders have incurred Show Cause Notices (SCN) associated with violating the terms and conditions of the storage license. In the absence of adequate responses, correspondent actions shall be made that aim to cancel the currently approved mineral sand storage licenses.
The crackdown on the illegal storage of sand is part of a strategic move aimed at ensuring efficient control and utilization of minerals in Chhattisgarh. The state government has been closely observing and exercising strict supervision over this sector to secure its future and curb illegitimate actions that are hazardous to the environment, including financial loss.
This considerable effort demonstrates the authorities’ seriousness in charge of the state in guaranteeing that all the mining activities performed in the state strictly follow the existing legal and regulatory provisions.
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