Rajasthan State PCS

• 16 Apr 2024

Rajasthan's Mines Department Plans to Increase Revenue in FY25

Why in News?

The Rajasthan Department of Mines & Geology has developed a strategy to increase revenue during the current financial year (FY25).

Key Points

• Rajasthan is one of the richest states in terms of availability and variety of minerals, producing over 57 types of minerals.
  • The mines department earned a revenue of over Rs 7,490 crore during FY2024.
• A plan has been made to ensure daily monitoring by preparing a road map for exploration, drilling, preparing blocks and plots for auction, creating an auction calendar, and revenue collection.
• According to the plan, better coordination with the concerned departments including forest, district administration, and police administration would be strengthened to stop illegal mining activities.
• There should be a regular system for collecting the revenue due to the government so that there is no need to make much effort for recovery at the last moment.

Illegal Mining

• Illegal mining is the extraction of minerals, ores, or other valuable resources from land or water bodies without the necessary permits, licenses, or regulatory approvals from government authorities.
• It can also involve the violation of environmental, labor, and safety standards.
• Government Initiatives Related to Mining
  • National Mineral Policy 2019: It aims to increase mineral exploration and production, promote sustainable mining practices, and streamline regulatory processes.
  • Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY): It is a welfare scheme for mining-affected areas, and the Sagarmala project, which aims to develop port infrastructure to support the growth of the mining sector.