NELLORE: Mining department officials, justifying their failure to check illegal mining, say they are not able to check illegal mining as they do not have sufficient staff strength.
Referring to a recent incident where 10, 800 cubic metres of gravel was excavated in addition to the sanctioned quantity from Venkatachalam reservoir, mining officials said they had no information until the opposition raised a hue and cry over this.
A team of four technical staff including a geologist, a royalty inspector and two technical assistants have to monitor 450 mines in a district like Nellore. Department officials say the situation is no different in other districts too.
Irrigation officials said a copy of the permission they granted automatically goes to the mines department and it is their duty to ensure the contractors did not do more of excavation. "Problem is, we are under-staffed," said an official of the mining department.
He said excess mining or unauthorised excavation of minerals will not happen if the revenue, irrigation and other departments performed their duties. The staff of both the departments are present in every village, he noted.
“The field staff can at least check whether there is permission for transportation of either sand or gravel and prevent illegal activities,” the official said.
“Despite lack of sufficient manpower, we have booked 194 cases and collected fines of Rs 32.78 lakh for the illegal mining of sand, gravel and blue metal among other minerals during 2021-22,” an official said.
Meanwhile, director of the mines and geology department, Venkat Reddy, said the staff in the district is adequate to handle the works entrusted to them. He said there existed regional vigilance squads consisting of four technical personnel including an assistant director, a royalty inspector, a geologist and a technical assistant in every district apart from the regular staff.
In addition, the Special Enforcement Bureau also conducts raids and are booking cases, he said, adding that the vigilance wing and the SEB have been effectively checking the illegal activities and imposing huge fines in cases of violations.
