Mineral fund in plenty, but no plans to spend it

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, September 24

The Himachal Pradesh District Mineral Foundation Fund is replete with money, but not with plans to execute developmental works in the areas affected by the mining.

In Solan district, which has major cement plants, Rs 28 crore has been collected, while Rs 10 lakh is pending from stones crushers. In Sirmaur district, Rs 35 lakh has been collected and the figure will touch Rs 1 crore once all 14 functional stone crushers and other units contribute their share. This fund is supposed to be collected by the Mining Wing of the Industries Department.

Solan Assistant Geologist Sarit Chandra said though Rs 28 crore had been collected in the fund so far, no work had been initiated to utilise it for the welfare of people affected by mining activities.

This fund, which was set up in June this year, has the mandate to collect 10 per cent of the royalty paid to the state government in case of minor minerals. The users of major minerals like the cement plants are supposed to pay 30 per cent of their royalty and it is applicable for all cases where the mining lease has been granted before January 12, 2015.

Sirmaur Assistant Geologist Suresh Bhardwaj said though some requests had come in from some people for obtaining compensation for losses suffered on account of mining activities in their areas, but such cases would be put up before the district-level committee for their view before the fund was spent.

With issues like erosion of arable land, damage to irrigation and potable water schemes, health problems, etc., being reported from mining areas, this fund is supposed to devise policies to ameliorate the lot of the affected people.

Issues like drinking water supply through a centralised purification system, including laying of supply systems, implementing environmental protection and pollution control measures like checking air and dust pollution caused by mining operations, etc., would be addressed through these funds. Other areas of focus included healthcare where creation of primary and secondary healthcare facilities in the affected areas would be given prominence.

The provision of necessary equipment and medicine supply would also be ensured.