Panjab Amends Mining Rules; Climate Activist Arrested

The Panjab Cabinet has approved amendments to the Punjab Minor Mineral Policy to address raw material shortages, curb illegal mining and corruption, reduce prices, boost state revenues, and prevent monopolistic practices in mining. The reforms introduce new mining categories, modernize auction mechanisms, and streamline regulatory approvals. Mines and geology minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the shift to online auctions and legalized supply chains would protect state revenue and curb illegal mining. A key change is the introduction of Crusher Mining Sites allowing crusher owners with gravel-bearing land to obtain mining leases for their own use. This move is expected to increase the supply of crushed sand and gravel, reduce dependence on other states, lower costs, and boost employment and revenues. In sand mining, the policy introduces Landowner Mining Sites, enabling landowners to mine sand from their own land on payment of royalty. Furthermore, the government has identified over 200 new mining sites in the state with surveys, technical vetting, public consultations, and environmental impact assessment studies currently in progress. Most of these mines are expected to become operational over the next three months. The government also auctioned 29 mining sites across the state for USD 1.05M and notified major reforms to the auction framework under the newly amended Punjab Minor Mineral Rules. Nearly 100 additional sites will also be auctioned in a staggered manner in the coming months. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested climate activist Harjeet Singh, a day after the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids at premises linked to him in connection with alleged violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. Singh has been a vocal advocate of climate justice, especially in the Global South and had attended the COP 30 event in Brazil as a part of Fossil Fuel Non-Prolifieration Committee . The Enforcement Directorate searched three premises in Delhi and Ghaziabad linked to Singh and Satat Sampada Private Limited, a climate advocacy group co-founded by him. The searches were part of a wider probe into the suspected misuse of foreign funds to ‘run narratives to influence government policies in the energy sector.’ Singh is out on bail (earlier coverage).