HSIIDC digs out crores from short-term mining permits

Despite having no previous experience in mining activity, Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Corporation (HSIIDC) has generated a revenue of Rs 22.65 crore in the last five short-term permits given by the director mines and geology with state excavating 33,15,695 meter of road metal and masonry stone.

Rajeev Arora, managing director of the Corporation said HSIIDC had already paid a royalty amounting to Rs 12.39 crore to the directorate of mines and geology, Haryana besides sales tax of Rs 2.39 crore paid to the sales tax authority up to end of October, 2008. Total revenue of Rs 14.78 crore has been generated for the government according to data available from the mining department, Haryana.

This is the first time production of this quantum has been achieved in the past six years. Even the receiver appointed by the state government achieved a maximum production of 7,01,907 metric tonne during March, and 2008.

The state government vide orders through director mining and geology, Haryana, decided in May this year that the mining lease hold areas of minor minerals that is road metal and masonry stone situated in village Khanak, Dadam and Kharkheri Sohan is tehsil Tosham, district Bhiwani, which had fallen vacant consequent upon the premature termination of existing leases as per the state government order be given on short-term permits to Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation, in realisation of the provision of rules as per powers vested in it under rule 56 of Punjab Minor Mineral Concession Rules-1964.

Accordingly, the HSIIDC applied for short-term permits for 30 days in May this year and initiated the mining activity. In fact, the HSIIDC assigned work relating to blasting of stone from Khanak, Dadam and Kharkheri Sohan hillocks on job-work basis to a private contractor experienced in the line and deployed its own staff for collection, accounts and other financial activities.

The patrolling and manning of check posts was organised by the Corporation. Personnel to manage security were also engaged by the Corporation for check posts. The HSIIDC managing director claimed that the Corporation had been able to achieve a sale of 8,43,540 metric tonne of stones (2, 10,885 trolleys) within 30 days of operations valuing Rs 5.48 crore out of Rs 5.78 crore collected as advance from stone crushers.

New vistas

• Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Corp has generated a revenue of Rs 22.65 crore in the last five short-term permits given by the director mines and geology

• This is the first-time production of this quantum has been achieved in the past six years