Government’s SLP in Multi-Thousand Crore Mining Scam Exposes Mafia Nexus – Morcha
# Why Did the Court Consider the Case Similar to the 2G Spectrum Scam?
# A Major Manipulation Was Done by Amending the 2021 Mining Policy
# Private Landowners Were Allowed to Conduct Mining to Benefit Mafias
# They Were Also Exempted from Environmental Clearance
# Royalty Was Reduced from ₹506 to ₹70 Per Ton
Vikasnagar:Jan Sangharsh Morcha President and former GNVN Vice Chairman, Raghunath Singh Negi, while addressing the press, alleged that as soon as the Dhami government took charge in July 2021, it amended the Uttarakhand Mining Policy 2021 within just three months on **October 21, 2021, to benefit mining mafias. The policy changes allowed leveling of private land near riverbanks, construction of recycling tanks, and fish ponds** to be excluded from the definition of mining. Additionally, the license validity was extended from one year to five years, and environmental clearance was also waived.
To further benefit the mining mafias, the royalty was reduced from ₹506 per ton to just ₹70 per ton, and heavy machinery was permitted to exploit the rivers, causing **huge revenue losses of thousands of crores to the government. Anticipating even greater losses, the Uttarakhand High Court intervened and, through Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 90/2020, ordered the government on 30th March , 2022, to stop mining activities.
In another PIL, the High Court issued notices to the government and the CBI on 31st March, 2023. Subsequently, the mining policy was scrapped, and the entire scam was compared to the 2G spectrum scam.
Negi further stated that seeing the loss of their mafia allies, the Dhami government hurriedly filed an SLP (Special Leave Petition) in the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision. However, the government faced severe embarrassment and was forced to withdraw its SLP on September 11, 2023. Instead of complying with the High Court’s orders in public interest, the government chose to shield the mining mafias, exposing its deep nexus with them.
Why did the government tarnish the state’s reputation? The situation has deteriorated to the point where policies are being tailored solely to benefit mafias.
The Morcha will continue to expose the government’s collusion with mining mafias. The press conference was also attended by Dilbag Singh and Praveen Sharma Pinny.
