TheHimachal Pradeshgovernment has made major changes in the Mining Rules-2015 to provide relief to PWD contractors by issuing two notifications in this regard simultaneously. These changes have been made in Rule 3A, 17, 19, 23, 31, 33 and 67 of Himachal Pradesh Minor Minerals (Concession) and Prevention of Mineral (Illegal Mining) Their Transport and Storage Rules, 2015.
In these, a provision has been made that now digging of up to one and a half meters for a brick kiln will not be considered as mining and for this there will be a royalty of one lakh rupees per annum. Making changes in mechanical mining, the State Government has now allowed the use of loaders of 80 HP capacity without scrap. It will not be classified as mechanical mining and for this permission will have to be taken from the Director, Industries. The application fee for mechanical mining will beRs 3 lakh and security will be Rs 5 lakh.
To increase the capacity of stone crushers and mining leases, now all lease holders will have to deposit 60 per cent royalty of the total capacity to the government even if they use or exploit less minerals than this. Actually, many stone crushers hide the production by giving less M form, so that royalty does not have to be paid. Now this will not happen.