March 14, 2020

Topic:- Mining.

What is the news?

• Government is thinking of decontrolling mining business.
• To come clean on sand mining business and improve its prospects in business terms, the Congress government is seeking to decontrol the mining business.

• The opposition in Punjab state has alleged that the government is aiding the sand mafia in the state.
• Even though the sand and gravel prices are stable, the state is thinking of decontrolling the mining business.
• For decontrolling the business, the government needs to pay off ₹ 300 crores to the contractors.

But there are fears that due to decontrolling of trade:-

• The prices of sand and gravel may go up.
• Illegal mining activities may go up.
• The state is divided into 7 blocks for mining of minor minerals ( sand and gravel).
• Of the 191 quarries auctioned last year, 45 are operational as they got the environment clearance.
• In case, the government decontrols the mining business, several conditions will have to be fulfilled for legal mining of sand and gravels.

The conditions are:-

1. Demarcation of a quarry site.

2 Getting the approval of the mining plan.

3 Obtaining the environment clearance system from the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority.

(Source: The Tribune)

Topic: Illegal mining and environmental damage.

 What is the news?

• ILLEGAL MINING NEAR SUTLEJ BRIDGE WEAKENS ITS BASE.
• A km long Agampur bridge seems to be on the verge of collapse.
•  The officials have failed to stop this practice.

• The relentless mining has lowered the riverbed.
• Due to this,  the flow of river water has increased and it is weakening the main support of the bridge is crumbling.
• As per the rules, mining is allowed up to 500 metres on both sides of the bridge.
• But, due to negligence and poor monitoring, the bridge has weakened.

(Source:- The Tribune)

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