OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL
With a view to ensuring effective curb on illegal mining in forest areas, the State Government has constituted division- level committees for making recommendation to competent authority regarding issuance
of mining lease outside forest areas but within 250 meters of their periphery.
The committees will be headed by concerning divisional commissioners. Mining Officer of divisional headquarters will be its Member- Secretary. For effective curb on illegal mining, lease holders will not be allowed to stack mined stones within 250 meters of forest periphery. Members of the Committee include concerning Chief Conservator of Forests ( in- charge officer of Forest Circle), concerning district collector or an officer nominated by him not below the rank of Additional Collector, concerning Divisional Forest Officer ( in- charge of Forest Division) and Mining Officer/ In- charge officer of Mining Department of concerning district.
The divisional commissioner will review cases of the districts under his jurisdiction invariably once a month.
Districts under the division will send proposals regarding mining concessions outside forest area but within 250 meter radius of forest periphery to the Divisional Mining Officer.
The division- level committee will have to seek explicit opinion from concerning Divisional Forest Officer on all the cases.
