Shimla, July 21 -- Close to 27 cases of illegal mining were detected every day in Himachal Pradesh (HP) over the last three years, according to data shared by the Ministry of Mines in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Between 2022-23 and 2024-25, a total of 29,276 cases were detected, and a fine of Rs 18.33 crore was imposed on the offenders.
In response to an unstarred question from HP's Rajya Sabha MP Dr Sikander Kumar, Minister of Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, submitted that a total of 8,451 cases of illegal mining were detected in 2022-23, out of which 6,635 cases were compounded with a fee of Rs 4 crore. A total of 834 cases were lodged in the courts in 2022-23, and out of that, 605 were decided. A total of Rs 1.17 crore fine was imposed...