Chandil Stone Industries committee wants simplification of stone mining lease policy

Seraikela, July 11:Ichagarh MLA and JMM leader  Savita Mahto along with chairman of Chandil Stone Industries Cooperation Committee, Sudhir Kisku and other members met the Deputy Commissioner to solve the problems of stone crusher unit and stone mining lease and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister. 

Drawing the attention of the Chief Minister in the memorandum, it was said that since the time of the undivided Bihar government, small stone mining leases, stone crusher units, sand ghat and brick kiln are the only means of livelihood for the local people in the entire Jharkhand state. After the separation of Jharkhand state, educated unemployed youths here used to get employment from this business by investing less capital. Along with this, the laborers here also got employment easily. But unfortunately due to the dual mining policy of the previous government, small mining leases, stone crusher units, sand ghat, etc., having approved licenses, have been closed for 30 years. Due to this the situation of unemployment and migration of laborers to other states has arisen while government is also incurring loss of revenue. 

They wanted the present state government to simplify the rules of stone mining policy. The stone industry cooperation committee demanded from the government that the mining lease should be renewed in the already approved government area with an area of fewer than 5 hectares. Considering the geographical location of Jharkhand state, as before, the distance of 250 meters from the forest land fixed from the ordinary stone mining lease and stone crusher unit on less than five hectares of government area and raiyati area should be made 50 meters. The revenue rate of ordinary stone of the present state government is  Rs 132 and  Rs 250 per cubic meter. Two types of revenue rate of the same stone should be removed and kept at Rs 132 per cubic meter. Stone mining lease, brick kiln and sand ghat are the main sources of income in Chandil sub-division of Seraikela-Kharsawan district under Kolhan division.

They also wanted that permission should be given to the area district mining officer to issue permit without environmental clearance and consent as before. Due to this, along with revenue to the state government from the barren  raiyati land, employment will be easily available to the educated unemployed youth and labourers. 

The Deputy Commissioner Arava Rajkamal assured that he would correspond with the State Government in this regard and would send the memorandum given by the committee to the Chief Minister.