Bhopal: Facing flak over illegal mining in state, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday announced interim ban on mining in Narmada. The ban will remain in place till a government-appointed panel determines quantity of sand that can be mined from the river without harming environment. Addressing a press conference, the chief minister said that the panel headed by state mining minister Rajendra Shukla will include experts from IIT, Kharagpur. The team would conduct a scientific study.
Chouhan further said mechanized mining would be banned in all rivers of the state. Pokeland machines would not be used to mine sand from river beds. In case of violation, vehicles, machines and equipment would be confiscated. Collectors have been given powers to do so, he declared. Till now, vehicles etc were let off after collecting a fine. Stating that construction industry’s demand for sand would be met by crushing stones, he also announced that the state would not charge any royalty for the first three years from such units. The chief minister also said that the government would take care of workers rendered jobless after the ban and would provide them jobs in other schemes.
He also announced long and short-term policies for sand marketing. Calling for striking a balance between development and environmental protection, Chouhan said that Narmada has already been accorded the status of a living person. Hence, all activities that harm the river have to be stopped, he added. He also reiterated state government’s resolve to plant six crore saplings on Narmada’s banks on July 2 and said that collectors have been asked to identify land for the purpose. Chouhan also said that in case of non-availability of land, saplings will be planted within a radius of 10-km from the river.
‘Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted’
Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said that the ban was imposed after a little was left to loot from Narmada. Terming it a publicity stunt, Singh said that it was a common knowledge that river beds cannot be mined during monsoon. He reminded that in 2015 when NGT had imposed a similar ban, the state government had got it revoked by pleading that it would lead to spurt in sand price.
