Dehradun. The mining department in the state has received revenue of more than Rs 1100 crore in the financial year 2024-25. This is the first time after the formation of the state, when the mining department has achieved the prescribed revenue target as well as earned record revenue.
Mining has always been considered one of the most promising departments to earn the highest revenue in the state. It is a different matter that the revenue of mining in the state has never reached more than Rs 450 crore. During the financial year 2024-25, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had directed the department to take strict steps to increase the revenue from mining.
In this episode, the mining department implemented e-auction and e-tendering system for allotment of mining leases. This brought transparency in the allotment of mining leases. The department started the system of live monitoring of mining vehicles through RIFD based tracking system, night vision cameras and GPS based monitoring. Also, 45 permanent mine check posts were activated.
Anti Illegal Mining Task Force was formed at the district level to effectively prevent illegal mining. In this, along with the Revenue Department, Mining Department, Forest Department and Police, environmental experts and Gram Pradhan were made members. Raids were conducted on illegal mining, illegal storage and illegal transportation in the state.
This is the reason why a fine of Rs 74.22 crore has been collected in 2176 cases this year. In the year 2020-21, a fine of Rs 18.05 crore was collected in 2752 cases. This fine was four times more than in previous years. This also curbed illegal mining.
At the same time, thousands of youth got employment directly and indirectly in the field of mining. The result of the government’s efforts was that the department has achieved a revenue target much higher than the revenue target of Rs 875 crore set by the government for mining. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that this is the result of the government’s transparent and good governance.
