Six years on, mining resumes in Yamunanagar

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, June 16

The mining of minor minerals – gravel, sand and boulders – resumed in the district today after nearly six years.

The mining will provide employment to more than 20,000 people and solve the problem of shortage of building materials.

With legalisation of the mining, prices of boulders, gravel and sand are expected to come down as the mining mafia has been selling sand at Rs 4,000 per 100 cubic feet for long.

The mining was banned in the district on March 1, 2010. Auction was held twice during this period, but the successful bidders had failed to obtain environment clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

As per information, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has granted clearance to M/s Ganga Yamuna Mining Company and M/s Astin Excavation and Mining Private Limited to start mining operations in the district. Both companies have also obtained consent for emission of air under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act from the State Pollution Control Board, Panchkula.

M/s Ganga Yamuna Mining Company today started the mining operation in Bhudkalan block. However, the other company is expected to start the operation in Yamunanagar Unit-2 from Friday.

Joginder Singh, who is associated with the stone crusher industry, said that mining industry was the backbone of the district as it provided direct employment to more than 20,000 people.

He said: “Now, the cost of house construction is also expected to come down.”

“Today, we issued the weightment slips to the Ganga Yamuna Mining Company and it has started the mining operation in the Bhudkalan bock allotted to it in auction,” said Rajeev Dhiman, District Mining Officer.