Principal Secretary chairs review meeting of Geology & Mining department

SRINAGAR: Principal Secretary, Geology and Mining Department, Anil Kumar Singh, today chaired a meeting to review functioning of the department at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar.
The Principal Secretary directed the department to expedite the auctioning of mining resources strictly as per the existing guidelines. He emphasized the need for stringent monitoring and a complete crackdown on illegal mining and related violations.
He instructed the officials to take strict legal action against the violators and ensure full compliance with the Central and UT mining Acts and Rules during all mining operations. He further stressed that the revenue generated from the mining activities must be effectively utilized for public welfare, with a focus on road development, health and other social sector initiatives that directly benefit the public.
While reviewing the human resources, the Principal Secretary emphasized the importance of filling up of vacant positions within the department to ensure efficient functioning.
The meeting included detailed presentations updating the chair on the progress in exploration and extraction of major and minor minerals including limestone, granite, blue sapphire, gypsum, lithium and coal. It was reported that during 2024–25, 36 leases for limestone and 205 leases for minor minerals were granted.
The Principal Secretary also directed for robust monitoring mechanism through multi-departmental district-level task forces, flying squads, informant teams, checkpoints and e-challaning systems to curb illegal mining. He reiterated the department’s core mandate to identify and explore mineral resources, prepare mineral blocks, grant concessions, and conduct geo-scientific and hydro-geological investigations to assess the feasibility of infrastructure projects and mitigate geo-hazards like landslides and subsidence.
The Principal Secretary called for promotion of mineral-based industries to boost employment and revenue generation and ensure uninterrupted supply of essential construction materials to various government departments in alignment with the UT’s developmental priorities.
During the meeting, it was informed that Rs. 16.79 crore revenue has been generated from the compounding of vehicles and machinery involved in illegal mining and transportation, with 6,219 seizures made in 2024–25. Furthermore, the department recorded a total revenue generation of Rs. 150.49 crore in Jammu and Kashmir during the same period. Additionally, gypsum mining generated revenue of Rs. 438 lakhs during 2025–26.
The meeting was attended by the Director, Geology and Mining, Director Finance, Managing Director, J&K Minerals, Joint Director, and other senior officers of the department.