Uttarakhand BJP Chief Claims Mining Revenue Triples Amid Mafia Crackdown
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Synopsis
The Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt announced a three-fold increase in mining revenue under CM Pushkar Singh Dhami's administration, attributing it to reforms and a crackdown on corruption. He emphasized the decline in mafia activities and criticized Congress for its claims of government collusion.
Key Takeaways
- Mining revenue in Uttarakhand tripled under BJP leadership.
- Reforms credited with enhancing government oversight.
- Previous Congress administration saw lower revenue figures.
- Increased penalties for mining mafias over five years.
- Illegal mining issues raised in Parliament by BJP MP.
Dehradun, March 30 (NationPress) The president of the Uttarakhand unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mahendra Bhatt, announced on Sunday that the mining revenue in the hill state has surged three times under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. This increase, he noted, is a direct result of the 'reforms' implemented within the sector.
During a press briefing, following a recent 'ugly confrontation' between BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat and a senior official from the Mining Department, Bhatt stated that the tripling of revenue is indicative of a decline in mafia activities and enhanced government oversight.
“Revenue from mining has escalated from Rs 300 crore to over Rs 1,000 crore. This clearly reflects the Dhami government's commitment to reforming the sector and eliminating corruption and mafia influences,” he asserted.
According to the BJP leader, the mining revenue was merely Rs 335.27 crore when the Congress party held power until 2017.
Bhatt also criticized Congress for alleging collusion between the government and mining mafias, asserting that the party is feeling the pressure as many individuals facing penalties have links to them.
He remarked that the Opposition, particularly Congress, is anxious due to the intensified crackdown on the mining mafia within the state.
“Congress leaders are worried about the fines imposed on mining mafias. Over the past five years, penalties have surged eightfold, from Rs 18.05 crore to Rs 74.22 crore. Much of this money has come from the pockets of mafias supported by Congress leaders, so it is understandable that they are distressed,” he explained.
It’s worth noting that the issue of illegal mining in Uttarakhand was highlighted after BJP MP and former state CM Trivendra Singh Rawat brought it up in Parliament, urging the state government to tackle the issue.
Rawat addressed the Lok Sabha on Thursday, putting his own party's administration in a challenging position by discussing the detrimental effects of illegal mining on both the populace and the environment of the northern state.
He described the dangers posed by trucks carrying illegal mining materials, noting the damage to roads and the risk to lives at night.
Rawat’s revelations not only equipped the Opposition with grounds to criticize the Dhami administration but also elicited a swift rebuttal from the state’s Mining Department.
The director of the State Mining Department, Brijesh Kumar Sant, quickly countered, stating that mining revenue has reached an all-time high in the current fiscal year, thus rendering the allegations 'baseless, false, and misleading'.
