The Uttar Pradesh government has announced that farmers no longer need permission for soil mining on their lands. The decision was made due to complaints from farmers about harassment and extortion associated with soil mining. Recently, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed dissatisfaction with the situation and instructed officials to take strict action against those who were harassing farmers.
To prevent harassment and illegal extortion from their fields, the royalty on general soil mining was abolished. Farmers were also required to obtain permission from the Department of Geology and Mining for soil mining for their private use. However, this requirement has also been eliminated due to the complaints from the farmers.
The department has made changes in the rules to ensure transparency in soil mining and launched the ‘Mine Mitra Portal’ for this purpose. Farmers can now apply for soil mining up to a depth of 100 cubic meters solely through this portal. After registration, mining and transportation are authorized automatically.
Despite registration on the Mine Mitra Portal, local police have been harassing farmers. In response, the department has issued explicit orders, stating that local police and Dial UP 112 police personnel must obtain permission from the District Magistrate and be present for the inspection of any legal/illegal transportation of soil or sand.
In addition to these measures, the Chief Minister has instructed officials to mark and demarcate gates for approved areas for soil mining correctly. Signboards indicating boundaries should be installed, and mining should be carried out as per departmental demand issued by responsible agencies.
To apply for mining/transportation of ordinary soil from their own land for personal use, farmers will need to create a login by providing their name, address, and mobile number on the Mine Mitra portal. The form will be displayed after logging in, which must be filled with the applicant’s name, mobile number, the quantity of ordinary soil as per land records, the purpose of mining, and complete details of the applied mining area.
The registration certificate received from the portal will be considered valid as the transport permit, and the validity of the certificate will be two weeks.
This step by the Uttar Pradesh government is a relief to the farmers who have been facing harassment and extortion associated with soil mining. By implementing a transparent process, the government hopes to promote ease of doing business and reduce corruption.
