SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday stressed the need for prompt decisions regarding sand and stone quarrying and lifting of loose material across Kashmir to ensure uninterrupted availability of construction material for the public.
He made these remarks while chairing a meeting to review the revival of customary mining activities and stone quarrying at identified locations across the Valley.
The meeting was attended by MLAs Justice (Retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, Ahsan Ahmad Pardesi, Hilal Akbar Lone, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, Javed Hassan Baig and Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo, besides Additional Chief Secretary, Mining Department, Director Geology and Mining, Director Finance Mining, Joint Directors and District Mineral Officers.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to completely curb illegal mining, the Deputy Chief Minister said that restrictions on unlawful operations should not result in a shortage of construction material for the people.
He called for the timely formulation of a comprehensive Mining Policy for Jammu and Kashmir to ensure optimum utilisation of mineral resources while safeguarding environmental interests. He stressed transparency in mining operations and directed the concerned authorities to ensure that illegal mining practices are not allowed in any district.
Surinder Choudhary also emphasised the need for effective royalty collection from companies engaged in mining activities across Kashmir and called for the speedy disposal of pending penalties and court cases related to mining operations.
The meeting held detailed discussions on the revival of customary stone quarrying activities at identified locations, including Panthachowk in Srinagar and Sadrekoot Bala in Bandipora, besides other potential sites.
The Deputy Chief Minister underscored the importance of balancing developmental requirements with environmental sustainability and directed the concerned departments to expedite the process of finalising modalities for regulated mining operations.
The meeting explored mechanisms for the structured revival of quarrying activities and outlined a roadmap for ensuring the availability of construction material while addressing environmental concerns.
Surinder Choudhary directed the departments to work in close coordination and ensure that all decisions are taken in a transparent, environmentally responsible and people-centric manner.
He also stressed the speedy disposal of penalty cases and litigation related to mining activities to ensure the smooth functioning of the department.
