Is there a nexus between miners and officials in Neemuch?
22 Sep, 2013On the basis of documents procured using an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Prabhat Bhatt, an activist has claimed that undue benefit has been granted to a company resulting in a loss of Rs 200 crore to the state exchequer. In 2008, a private company was given a temporary patta (lease) for mining of stones at Arniamangir (district Neemuch) for a period of five years on the condition that it would help in creating a trench for water conservation in the area free of cost. The company was expected to provide Rs 15 lakh to local gram panchayat.
Following allegation of violations of the norms of the mining license including charge of illegal mining in the adjacent nullah, a notice was served under section 247 of MP Land Revenue Act to the company by the district administration in March 2009. The company applied for surrendering the lease in April 2010 and did not reply to the notice. A no dues certificate was issued to the company though it has been alleged that the company had dues of royalty of around Rs 5 crore apart from the penal liability. A politician – bureaucratic - businessman nexus in mining has been claimed to lead to major revenue losses across the country.