To Counter Illegal Mining, the Haryana Government Has Developed a Standard Operating Procedure

The Haryana government has created a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to deter illicit mining and sternly handle crimes associated with it, tightening the noose around illegal miners.

The SOP created by the Department of Mines and Geology is intended to serve as a roadmap for all parties cooperating with the State government to stop illicit sand and stone mining and to handle cases involving it strictly in Haryana.

SOP for unauthorized mining

(Photo : Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

This information was presented to all of the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police on Wednesday throughout a review meeting conducted via video conference and presided over by Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal, as per The Hindu.

The State Rules, 2012's provisions, which broadly categorize the SOP into four groups, were informed to the Chief Secretary.

According to a formal statement, these categories include the identification and protection of regions that are prone to unauthorized mining activities, the investigation of unauthorized mining following a complaint or tip, and mining material-transporting vehicles that lack valid authorization.

These categories also include the owners of mining concessions who are breaking the terms of the Mining Plan or Environmental Clearance (EC).

Mr. Kaushal instructed the Deputy Commissioners to make sure that the directives concerning illicit mining as well as the environment were strictly followed.

He further instructed the Deputy Commissioners to physically visit the areas to monitor unlawful mining and guarantee that violators would face consequences.

The Chief Secretary instructed the Deputy Commissioner to quickly form a committee consisting of one representative from the Mining Department and one representative from the Police Department upon receiving a complaint regarding illicit mining.

The site will be inspected right away by this committee.

The representative of the Forest Department and Revenue Department will be included in the committee if the unlawful mining location is located on forest territory.

This committee will have that location videotaped during the inspection. The Deputy Commissioner may also hire a drone to film the area in question.

He advised the police to perform periodic inspections of the mining areas in addition to holding regular meetings of the district task force.

Additionally, he added, crushers placed in the districts must be closely observed, and police patrolling must be strengthened there.

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Mining negative impacts

Mining operations, such as prospecting, exploration, construction, operation, maintenance, expansion, abandonment, decommissioning, and repurposing of a mine, can have a variety of direct and indirect effects on social and environmental systems, both good and negative, as per BMC.

On people and society, mining can have both beneficial and detrimental effects.

Human health and living standards are two areas where there are negative effects.

Comes into conflict over land usage, other social effects such as those relating to public health and human wellbeing, and mining are all known to have an impact on Indigenous peoples' traditional ways of living in adjacent communities.