The Cabinet approved this amendment proposal in the Uttarakhand River Dredging Policy. The Chief Minister had already permitted this under his prerogative.

Now drone cameras will keep an eye on the mining work being done under river dredging in the rivers of Uttarakhand. This entire work will have to be videographed. To stop illegal mining and adopt a transparent process, this amendment proposal in the Uttarakhand River Dredging Policy was approved in the state cabinet meeting. The Chief Minister had already permitted this under his prerogative.

According to the amendment, machines can be used for dredging works. On expiry of the license every month, it will be mandatory to submit a copy of the drone photograph of the approved permission area to the District Magistrate’s Office, Geology and Mining Directorate, and the District Office. Punitive action will be taken if any irregularity is found in drone photographs.

Apart from this, there was a provision of giving six months’ permission for the removal of debris, RBM, and silt by the committee formed under the chairmanship of the District Magistrate of the River Dredging Policy. But now in such pending cases, the person who has deposited all the royalty to obtain the permission can grant permission for up to three months. Such cases may be considered in which the extraction of minerals could not be started on time due to unavoidable reasons.

Relief to those who had applied earlier:
The Cabinet has given relaxation in distance-related standards to those who had applied before the Policy 2021 for Stone Crushers, Screening Plants, Mobile Stone Crushers, Mobile Screening Plants, Pulverizer Plants, Hot Mix Plants, and Ready Mix Plants. Only the standards prescribed in the 2020 policy will apply to them. This facility will be available only to those who have submitted their proposals to the Mining Department and the Government with the recommendation of the District Magistrate.

Seven posts increased in the structure:
The Cabinet has approved seven additional posts in the reorganized structure of the Geology and Mining Department. Getting the posts of mining officers will help the department in tightening the noose on illegal mining.