“Operational Mandate of the Chief Secretary to Deputy Commissioners for immediate action against both delinquent officials and violators of illegal mining activities is obviously an initiative to boost transparency in mining activities in Jammu & Kashmir”
Illegal mining activities have attracted huge public criticism in recent years so much so that Jammu & Kashmir Government had to establish a separate mining department just few years back as otherwise mining use department used to be part of the Industries & Commerce Department in Jammu & Kashmir. Now Government has introduced integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS) to hold both the violators and as well as the delinquent officials accountable for the violations which occur either intentionally or with connivance with the law enforcers. To ensure transparency in the operation of mining Chief Secretary Attal Dulloo in a recent review meeting of the mining department has directed the law enforcers to forcefully use the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS) as a tool of accountability and transparency. The directive of the Chief Secretary to ensure concrete action on the ground on every trigger or alert generated through the Integrated Mining Surveillance System (IMSS) must leave no scope for any violation in the operation of mining activities anywhere in Jammu & Kashmir. Chief Secretary has not only directed immediate action on every trigger or alert though the system but he also asked the concerned authorities of the mining department to fix responsibility on both the delinquent officials and as well as the violators for illegal operation of the mining activities. Now the onus of holding both the violators and as well as the delinquent official responsible lies on Deputy Commissioners who as Chief Administrative Officers of the districts have been authorized to mobilize the enforcement machinery through districts heads of the mining department across Jammu & Kashmir. Yet another key feature of the accountability measures taken for bringing about transparency in the operation of mining activities at the review meeting is a well conceived plan to integrate the IMSS with e-Challan and e-Market platforms, and add web-based vehicle tracking and on-spot e-challaning obviously to move the system beyond just detection to include real-time enforcement and revenue collection. Additionally the directives regarding the identification, auction, and operationalization of mineral blocks show a clear intent to maximize revenue generation by removing bureaucratic hurdles.
“Chief Secretary’s directives for the department seek to balance robust regulation with efficient operation. The strategy is multi-faceted, leveraging Technology (IMSS), ensuring Accountability (penalizing delinquent officers), promoting Decentralization (DC access), and driving Efficiency (streamlining clearances).”
Instructing the Pollution Control Committee (PCC) to provide a “comprehensive checklist of clearances and requirements so that all necessary formalities can be completed in one go, rather than in piecemeal fashion,” is an excellent move to break the logjam. The piecemeal approach to Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Operate (CTO) is a common reason for project delays, which stalls revenue. This decision prioritizes ease of doing business without necessarily sacrificing environmental compliance. The emphasis on the need to “expedite the process to enhance revenue generation” acknowledges the significant economic potential currently locked up in non-operational blocks (e.g., 79 blocks awaiting EC, 30 at CTO stage). The goal is to move the remaining 132 blocks forwarded for e-auctioning quickly through the Single Window System. Apparently the Chief Secretary’s directives at the review meeting are aimed at balancing the two critical needs of the department,i.e, robust regulation and efficient operation. The strategy is well-rounded, focusing on Technology (IMSS), Accountability (penalizing delinquent officers), Decentralization (DC access), and Efficiency (streamlining clearances).
