Jaipur: The state govt Thursday constituted six task forces to curb illegal mining, transportation and storage of sand in the Jojari, Bandi and Luni river areas.Additional chief secretary (mines and petroleum) Aparna Arora said the task forces had been constituted in Sirohi, Sojat City, Jalore, Barmer, Jodhpur and Gotan to strengthen monitoring and ensure compliance with directions issued by the High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee, Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT).“The teams will inspect mining leaseholders to ensure compliance with environmental clearance conditions, including the prescribed maximum mining depth of three metres, maintaining the required distance from riverbanks and preventing mining below the water level,” she said.The teams have been directed to follow the Centre’s Enforcement and Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining, 2020, along with relevant provisions of Section 23B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act and the Rajasthan Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2017.Assistant mining engineers have been appointed as in-charges of the task forces. Geologists, mining foremen, and surveyors will be among the other members, while officials and personnel from other areas have been assigned to ensure transparency. The additional director (vigilance), headquarters, has been appointed nodal officer.
