Raipur, June 28, 2021. Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has said that DMF fund should be utilized to make arrangements for Gauthans set up in villages under Suraji Gaon Yojana. The works related to development of pastureland, construction of sheds for multi-activity centers in Gauthan, construction of Devgudi and Ghotul in Bastar should also be done under this item, said Mr. Baghel. He said that State Government is planning to develop Gauthans as Rural Industrial Parks. Construction of a shed in gauthans will make it easier for the self-help groups to conduct economic activities. Mr. Baghel said that Mukhyamantri Haat Bazar Clinic scheme is proving to be very effective in providing health services in the interior of rural areas. DMF fund should be utilized to arrange for vehicles for this scheme. It was also decided in the meeting that the DMF fund should be used for implementation of various announcements made by Chief Minister Mr. Baghel recently.
In the meeting, Chief Minister said that in the places around unused mines in the state, irrigation facilities should be provided to the farmers by installing pumps. The royalty received from minor mineral sand should be distributed to the concerned Gram Panchayats soon. It is to be known that there is a provision to give 25 percent more royalty to the panchayats, on the royalty received from sand. As per the provision, as on March 2020, the department is taking action to distribute Rs.19 crore 20 lakh 94 thousand to the gram panchayats.
It was informed in the review meeting that in the year 2020-21, the state had received mineral revenue of Rs 5517 crore, and for the year 2021-22, a target of mineral revenue worth Rs 7800 crore has been set. In the current financial year till May 2021, a total mineral revenue of Rs 1217 crore 82 lakh has been received. It was also informed in the meeting that 18 mineral blocks have been proposed for auction in the year 2021-22. Chief Minister has given instructions to complete all the preparations for auction of these mineral blocks within the prescribed time-limit. An amount of about Rs 200 crore will be received from the auction of these mineral blocks in 6 months, and as mining commences in these blocks, the state will start recieving revenue of about Rs 1998 crore every year. These mineral blocks include 10 iron ore and 8 limestone blocks.
In the review meeting held today, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel approved the proposal to explore new mineral areas of precious minerals Diamond, Gold, Silver, Copper, Tungsten, Base metal, Nickel, PGE Minerals, Bauxite and Iron ore in the state with the help of technical experts. During the review of DMF, it was informed that Chhattisgarh ranks second in the country among the states which are sanctioning works from DMF and spending from this item. 68 percent of the DMF fund has been spent in the state, which is the highest in the entire country. Similarly, Chhattisgarh ranks first in the country in terms of sanctioning works, disbursement and payment of funds through DMF portal. In the year 2020-21, an amount of Rs 1464 crore 53 lakh has been received under DMF head. In this financial year till the month of May, an amount of Rs 251 crore has been received. 51 thousand 951 works costing Rs 7 thousand 9 crore have been approved from DMF. An amount of Rs 4766 crore has been spent on these works so far.
In the meeting, information regarding Mineral Online 2.0 project was provided. Under this project, Mineral Vehicle Tracking System would be developed to control illegal transportation and diversion of minerals. Besides, Integrated Command Control Center will also be developed for administrative control. Mobile app and desktop application are also being developed.
It was informed in the meeting that 293 mines of minor minerals low grade limestone, dolomite, quartz, ordinary stone, brick-clay, granite have been e-auctioned in the state, out of which 192 mines are operational. It was also informed in the meeting that after the new sand policy, 362 sand mines were auctioned in the state, out of which 256 mines are operational. In the financial year 2020-21, Rs 17 crore 77 lakh from sand royalty, Rs 17 crore 76 lakh as auction amount, Rs one crore 76 lakh in DMF and 21 crore 54 lakh as application fee from applications received for sand block auction were recieved. It was informed in the meeting that star rating system has been implemented in the mines of minor minerals. The mines are given star rating on parameters like systematic and scientific mining, environmental protection, conservation of minerals, compliance of mine safety measures etc. Chief Minister Mr. Baghel will honor the lessees of the selected 5 star mines by giving them certificates.
In the meeting, Chairman of Chhattisgarh State Mineral Development Corporation Mr. Girish Devangan, Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain, Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Subrat Sahu, Secretary of Mineral Resources Department Mr. Anbalgan P, Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Siddharth Komal Singh Pardeshi, Director of Mineral Resources Department Mr. Jai Prakash Maurya were also present.
