Panjab Updates Mining Policy, Faces Industry Protests over Power Rates

The Panjab Cabinet on 3 Apr updated the state’s Minor Mineral Policy to allow private landowners and panchayats (village councils) to mine sand and gravel. The government raised royalties to INR 1.75 per cubic foot for sand and INR 3.15 for gravel. Mining Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said this revised scheme will expand raw material supply, lower consumer costs, and reduce illegal mining. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema announced new categories of mining—crusher mining and landowner mining—and announced that Deputy Commissioners could now issue No Objection Certificates for relevant sites. The Cabinet also introduced the Mukhya Mantri Teerth Yatra (Pilgrimage) Scheme for residents aged fifty-plus. Separately, Union Environment minister Bhupender Yadav told the Indian Parliament that from 1 Apr 2014 to 31 Mar 2024, Chandigarh diverted 40 hectares of forest land for non-forestry purposes by allocating it to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research buildings. Additionally, Yadav said these projects obtained environmental clearances under the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, following the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. On the positive side, a Forest Survey of India report indicated a 9% jump in Chandigarh’s forest cover over seven years, aided by local reforestation schemes. Meanwhile, industrialists in Ludhiana criticized the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission’s new tariffs, raising night-hour energy charges from INR 5.31 to INR 5.50 per kVAh. Rajnish Ahuja of the Apex Chamber of Commerce and Industry says the costlier power will hurt competitiveness, while others propose curbing distribution losses to slash expenses. Also, starting 1 Apr, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has raised toll fees by INR 5 to INR 15 at 50-plus toll plazas in Panjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. NHAI project director Aashim Bansal said the hike aligns with Wholesale Price Index-linked inflation under existing fee regulations.