Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called on the authorities to increase the production of artificial sand (M-sand) to minimize the negative environmental impact on rivers. M-sand is artificial sand produced by crushing hard rock.
He also said that instead of extracting land from fertile lands for brick production, alternative sources for brick production should be identified in Uttar Pradesh. CM said brick kiln operators should be encouraged to switch to an alternative source.
Yogi issued the guidelines during a high-level meeting with geology and mining department officials on Thursday to review the department's operations and issue necessary instructions. To speed up development projects, eco-friendly M sand should be an alternative to sand/maurang (coarse sand). This will reduce the load on other minerals, CM said.
Mining Department officials have informed the Minister that 19 blocks of phosphorite, potash, iron, platinum group, metallic gold, sillimanite, andalusite, and limestone are ready for auction in the state. Officials added that in the fiscal year 2022-23, the state produced 6,762 thousand cubic meters of minor minerals, thereby generating revenue of Rs 3,367.26.
They added that in the first quarter of fiscal year 2023-24, revenue came in at 1,093.6 R-cores, 95.6% higher than revenue in the same period last year, indicating an increase of 356.6 R-cores. Officials say the contribution of minor minerals to the state's mining revenue is 70%, with resources such as common sand, coarse sand (maurang), gravel, and boulders contributing about 91%. The dredging of the state's rivers has been completed by order of the National Green Court, CM said. This will not only solve the problem of flooding but will also help to channel the rivers.
He ordered the mining and irrigation departments to jointly prepare a comprehensive action plan. Yogi emphasized the need to increase mining leases in the state. He instructed the relevant authorities, including the Chief Secretary, the Commissioner for Industrial and Infrastructure Development, the Additional Chief Secretary (Forestry), and the Principal Secretary (Minings) to make serious efforts to provide an environmental non-compliance certificate (NOC). He also ordered them to take strict measures against illegal mining and make the integrated mining monitoring system more effective. CM said 39 checkpoints in different border districts of the state should use technical means to monitor the transportation of minerals, such as sand, coarse sand, stone, and others, to ensure properly handled during transportation.
He added that overloading should be strictly prohibited and the number of checkpoints should be increased. Dealers are also tasked with determining mineral prices based on market rates. “They should make the necessary changes to the auction policies of large mining blocks. The approval process for new storage facilities in the state should be simplified. “The storage times of different minor minerals should be determined separately,” he said.
