J&K cracks down on illegal mining, seizes 18,990 vehicles, generates Rs 395.4 cr in revenue in 3 years
Vikram Sharma
JAMMU: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary has strongly refuted allegations linking him to illegal mining activities in Udhampur district.
He asserted that the government’s strict actions against officials involved in such activities under the previous regime have irked certain political figures.
The controversy erupted when BJP MLA R.S. Pathania accused the Deputy CM, who also holds the mining portfolio, of failing to curb illegal mining.
“When the mining minister himself is inactive, a shadow minister seems to be managing the affairs,” Pathania alleged.
Chaudhary swiftly dismissed the accusation, challenging Pathania to provide concrete evidence regarding the existence of a so-called “shadow minister.” He contended that BJP legislators were merely agitated because the government had acted decisively against corrupt officials.
Further fueling the debate, Udhampur West BJP MLA Pawan Gupta claimed that evidence, including GPS coordinates of illegal mining sites and identities of those involved, had been provided to authorities. He also pointed out that the Deputy CM had been seen in photographs with individuals allegedly engaged in illegal mining.
Dismissing these allegations as baseless, Chaudhary emphasized that the government’s recent actions, such as the removal of the Director of Meteorology for misconduct had unsettled certain members who, he said, might have been complicit in illegal mining operations.
The Deputy CM reiterated his commitment to eradicating illegal mining and accused his detractors of attempting to divert attention from their own questionable associations.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir government has reported a significant increase in revenue from mining activities, totaling Rs 39,543.65 lakhs over the past three years.
In parallel, authorities have seized 18,980 vehicles involved in illegal mining and imposed penalties amounting to RS 5,024.85 lakhs during the same period.
According to the data presented in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the revenue generation was Rs 11,880.38 lakhs in 2025 so far, Rs 17,546.56 lakhs in 2023-24, and Rs 10,116.71 lakhs in 2022-23.
In terms of enforcement, the government has intensified its actions, seizing 5,053 vehicles and machinery this year, 7,018 in 2023-24, and 6,909 in 2022-23.
Penalties for illegal mining have also increased, with Rs 1,471.00 lakhs in 2025, Rs 1,919.85 lakhs in 2023-24, and Rs 1,634.00 lakhs in 2022-23.
To tackle illegal mining, the government established a multi-departmental district-level task force in 2018, led by the concerned Deputy Commissioner. Vigilance cum Monitoring Flying Squads were created for both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions to enhance surveillance, and 22 mineral check posts were set up at various entry and exit points to monitor mineral transportation and extraction.
In a move to increase transparency and streamline processes, an online web portal (e-Challan/e-Market place) was launched in August 2022 for the sale and purchase of minerals at notified rates.
The government has also taken steps to address the environmental impact of mining activities, forming District-Level Environmental Committees and enforcing environmental norms. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has constituted a committee focused on mitigating the environmental damage of illegal mining, particularly on aquatic ecosystems.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken serious note of the environmental damage caused by illegal mining in District Rajouri.
In April 2022, NGT directed the formation of a Joint Committee for remedial action, led by former J&K High Court Judge Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, with representatives from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), State Pollution Control Board (PCB), and the Irrigation Department. The NGT had initially set an interim compensation of ₹7 crore for the offenders, although the Supreme Court stayed the order in December 2022.
