Mumbai, March 23 (NationPress) In the Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra's Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Monday that the state is facing a serious issue with illegal mining, which will be addressed immediately. He revealed plans for an ETS mapping (digital system survey) of every mine in Maharashtra.

The concerns regarding extensive illegal extraction of minor minerals in the districts of Raigad, Thane, and Palghar were brought to light through a ‘Calling Attention’ motion by Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Prabhu.

Prabhu emphasized the need for action, noting that excavation activities are ongoing in various locations without the necessary environmental clearances, which is resulting in substantial losses to state revenue. He pointed out that after complaints are made, operations cease temporarily only to resume after minimal action is taken.

Responding to these claims, Minister Bawankule indicated that many instances showed a lack of verification for mining lease validity, absence of environmental clearances, neglect in mining zone planning, and failure to collect advance royalties. Initial investigations suggest that permissions were granted despite inadequate documentation. He mentioned that the hills in Raigad, Thane, and Palghar have been extensively mined, suggesting the involvement of powerful individuals.

“To assess the full scope of minor mineral extraction, a comprehensive ETS mapping will be finalized within the next three months. Following this assessment, all illegal mining operations will be halted. Permissions issued over the last five years will be thoroughly examined, and necessary actions will be taken where discrepancies are found. Any mine lacking a valid license, explosive department clearance, or environmental approval will be shut down. District Collectors will be instructed to inspect all mines and present a report within three days,” stated the minister.

In the discussion, Dilip Lande, MLA from the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), accused that illegal excavation is taking place in the Chandivali area of Mumbai for unauthorized construction. He alleged that traffic police are even guarding trucks during nighttime operations. In response, Minister Bawankule urged MLAs to report such occurrences to the government. “This exploitation of the state must be collectively addressed. While essential minerals will be sourced legally, illegal excavations will be completely eradicated,” he asserted.

Congress MLA Nana Patole also joined the call for stringent measures against illegal mining activities in the state. Prabhu added, “When legislators raise inquiries, officials claim that work has been paused only during the Assembly session, but it resumes afterward. This has resulted in immense revenue losses. We must recover this revenue and take action against the tehsildars and sub-divisional officers who facilitate these illegal operations.”