Bringing Auctioned Mines into Operation is State Government’s Top Priority: Chief Secretary V. Srinivas

Jaipur, June 2026 : Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said that bringing auctioned mines into operation at the earliest is the state government’s foremost priority. He directed all concerned departments to expedite statutory approvals and complete the necessary formalities to facilitate the commencement of mining activities.

Chairing an inter-departmental meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Srinivas said that the early operationalization of auctioned mines would not only enable the state to receive incentive funds from the Central Government but would also create new opportunities for investment, employment, and revenue generation in the mining sector. It would further promote legal mining of Rajasthan’s valuable mineral resources.

The Chief Secretary noted that Rajasthan is among the leading states in the country in the auction of both major and minor mineral blocks, with 101 major mineral blocks already auctioned. He emphasized that departments responsible for granting statutory clearances should act as facilitators rather than mere regulatory bodies.

Srinivas urged the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to accelerate the process of issuing environmental clearances for auctioned mines. He stressed the need to ensure that all required formalities are completed in a single instance and that environmental approvals are granted within a defined timeline. He also called on SEIAA to review pending cases and provide guidance and support to speed up decision-making.

The Chief Secretary instructed the Forest Department to upload all relevant information related to forest clearances, wildlife sanctuaries, eco-sensitive zones, and other regulatory requirements on the designated portal. He said the department should actively assist applicants in completing necessary procedures.

Expressing concern over frequent accidents involving mineral transport vehicles, Srinivas directed that speed governors be made mandatory in dumpers and other vehicles used for transporting minerals. He also ordered the installation of Vehicle Tracking Systems (VTS) in such vehicles and their integration with both the Mines Department and the Transport Department for better monitoring and regulation.

The meeting also discussed the possibility of commencing mining activities in auctioned mines located within the jurisdiction of the Jaipur and Jodhpur Urban Development Authorities and explored ways to facilitate mineral-related operations in those areas.

Additional Chief Secretary, Mines and Petroleum, Aparna Arora, said that operationalizing auctioned mines remains one of the department’s biggest challenges. She explained that mines require approvals from multiple departments, including Environment, Revenue, and Forests, and delays in obtaining these clearances often postpone the start of mining operations.

She pointed out that such delays affect investment, employment generation, legal mineral extraction, and state revenue. Furthermore, the Central Government offers incentive grants to states for successfully bringing auctioned mines into operation.

Arora added that timely approvals would enable auctioned mines to become operational faster, generating employment opportunities at the local level and boosting economic activity in mining regions.

Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development, Alok Gupta, also offered suggestions during the meeting. Principal Secretary, Transport, Bhawani Singh Detha, informed participants that the department is already taking action against vehicles exceeding prescribed speed limits through interceptor systems and other enforcement mechanisms.

SEIAA Chairman Munish Garg assured the meeting that environmental approvals would be processed more swiftly in the future.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary, Mines, Namrata Vrishni, senior forest officials, SEIAA Member Secretary Vijay N., and representatives from various concerned departments.