Around 27 cases of illegal mining were detected every day in Himachal Pradesh over the last three years, according to the data shared by the Ministry of Mines in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, a total of 29,276 cases were detected, and a fine of Rs 18.33 crore was imposed on the offenders, it said.
In response to an unstarred question from HP’s Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sikander Kumar, Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, submitted that a total of 8,451 cases of illegal mining were detected in 2022-23, out of which 6,635 cases were compounded with a fee of Rs 4 crore.
A total of 834 cases were lodged in the courts in 2022-23, and out of that, 605 were decided. A total of Rs 1.17 crore fine was imposed by the courts.
A total of Rs 5.18 crore fine was collected in 2022-23.
In 2023-24, the cases rose to 10,036, an increase of 18.8% from the previous year. Out of these cases, 8,014 were compounded with a fee of Rs 5.38 crore. Out of these cases, 1,240 were lodged in the courts. The courts decided 535 cases in 2023-24, and a fine of Rs 86.80 lakh was imposed.
A total of Rs 6.25 crore was collected in fines in 2023-24.
In 2024-25, 10,789 cases of illegal mining were detected, representing a 7.5% increase from the previous year. Out of these, 8,267 were compounded with a fee of Rs 6.36 crore.
A total of 1,826 cases were lodged in the courts in 2024-25, and out of that, 300 were decided.
A total of Rs 6.90 crore was collected in fines in 2024-25 that included Rs 54.16 lakh fine imposed by the courts.
The Minister informed that as per section 15 of the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957, the state governments have been empowered to make rules for regulating the grant of quarry leases, mining leases or other mineral concessions in respect of minor minerals and for purposes connected therewith. Furthermore, as per Section 23C of the MMDR Act, the state governments are empowered to frame rules to prevent the illegal mining, transportation, and storage of minerals.
He further informed that to control illegal mining, the Himachal government has restricted carrying out mining activities during the night, and the custodian departments have been made responsible for initiating action against illegal mining.
FIRs are lodged for damaging public property, sign boards are fixed in mining lease areas for information of general public, Sub Divisional Level Flying Squads are constituted, powers are delegated to other departments too to check illegal mining and seize illegal material/vehicles, and verification of the transit passes beyond 50 kms from source is being carried out, he stated.
The Minister said, “The Government of Himachal Pradesh has informed that whenever any instance of illegal mining is reported, action is initiated against the offender as per the provisions contained in the ‘Himachal Pradesh Minor Mineral (Concession) and Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Storage and Transportation) Rules, 2015’.”