Himachal government demands mining sites comply with FCA or face cancellation of lease

Shimla – The Himachal Pradesh government has issued a final ultimatum to 231 mining sites, requiring them to obtain Forest Conservation Act (FCA) clearance within six months or face cancellation of their leases. The directive affects almost all mining sites allotted in the state since 2016, as only one site out of 232 has obtained the necessary FCA clearance from the Indian government. The delay in clearance has prevented the state from realising an expected revenue of Rs 103 crore from these sites.

Industries Minister Harshvardhan Singh Chauhan announced the notice, stressing the dire need for compliance. “A final notice of six months has been given to all such mining leases. They must obtain clearance from the FCA within this period, otherwise the lots will be cancelled and re-auctioned. The state has already collected 25 per cent of the amount of these lots, which will be forfeited if clearance is not obtained,” he said.

The government plans to revamp the auction process to streamline future operations. Minister Chauhan said the merger of small leases into larger ones is aimed at making the clearance process easier. He also revealed a major change in the management of dredging operations on the Beas River, affecting areas in Manali and Kullu. The responsibility for dredging has been transferred from the mines department to the forestry company. The change follows a request from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and subsequent problems with the dredging operations, where the extracted material was not deposited as expected.

In future, all mining auctions will be conducted through the Forest Corporation to ensure better monitoring and compliance. These changes are aimed at addressing controversies arising from previous dredging activities and the improper movement of material extracted from the Beas River.

In a related discussion, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Harshvardhan Chauhan commented on the frequent presence of Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax officials during state elections. He suggested that such visits are aimed at destabilising non-BJP governments.