Dehradun: Generally, people have a negative perception of mining activities. However, in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has made the mining allocation and transportation process transparent and cracked down on illegal mining. As a result, in less than a year and a half, the annual mining revenue has increased from ₹300 crore to over ₹1200 crore.
The state government implemented a new mining policy in September 2024. The new mining policy introduced several new measures, including the allocation of mining lots through e-auctions and satellite monitoring of mining activities. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also instructed the police and administration to take strict action against illegal mining. The positive results are now becoming evident. Before September 2024, the state received only up to ₹300 crore in annual revenue from mining, but now this revenue has crossed ₹1200 crore. Furthermore, Uttarakhand has secured the second position nationwide for implementing mining reforms, as a result of which the central government has sanctioned special assistance of ₹200 crore for Uttarakhand under the “Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment Scheme (SASCI)” for the financial year 2025-26.
The changed scenario due to these reforms:
Allocation of mining lots through e-auction
Effective crackdown on illegal mining
Mining surveillance system for mining transportation
Digital tracking and inspection of mining activities
Common people require mining materials for residential or other construction, and mining is also necessary for various development projects. In this context, the state government has ensured that mining is carried out according to environmental standards, and a transparent system has been developed for this purpose. The positive results are now visible. This has also led to a significant increase in revenue, which is being used to fund public welfare schemes. Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand
