POONCH: A District Level Review Meeting on mining-related issues was convened today in the meeting hall of the DC Office and chaired by Deputy Commissioner and Chairman MDDLTFC, Vikas Kundal. The meeting was attended by key officials, including the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Executive Engineer Flood Control, Dy. SP and Divisional Forest Officer, along with other concerned officers. At the onset of the meeting, a presentation was given by District Mineral Officer Mohammad Sayeed.
The meeting discussed critical aspects to strengthen the regulation and management of mining activities in the district. These includes, identification of potential hotspots of illegal mining and enforcement of preventive measures, exploration of new areas for creating mining blocks, sensitization of Tehsil Level Committees to enhance monitoring and enforcement, establishing robust monthly and weekly reporting mechanisms for Tehsil Level Committees, initiating strict actions against illegal mineral processing units, including crushers and hot mix plants, streamlining the process for Environmental Clearance (EC) renewals, development of a comprehensive data bank of violators and tehsil-wise mineral resources and processing units, ensuring the legality of mineral processing operations and improving enforcement with the involvement of departments like Transport, Traffic, Pollution and Fisheries.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for proactive measures to curb illegal mining and directed all concerned departments to work in close coordination for effective enforcement. The meeting concluded with actionable directives to strengthen monitoring mechanisms by involving all the departments of the Multi departmental task force cell and ensure sustainable mining practices in the district.
