Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India]: The Uttarakhand Indian Civil Services (IAS) Association has called for assurances regarding the dignity and self-respect of bureaucrats after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Trivendra Singh Rawat alleged illegal mining activities in the state.
Trivendra Singh Rawat, a former Chief Minister and the current Haridwar MP, raised concerns in Parliament last Thursday regarding alleged unlawful mining operations in Uttarakhand. His remarks sparked controversy within both the political and bureaucratic spheres.
In response, the IAS Association held an emergency meeting, presided over by its president Anand Vardhan, where members voiced their discontent with Rawat’s statements. They particularly took issue with his reaction to the comments made by State Mining Secretary Brijesh Kumar Sant, who had highlighted the significant increase in the state’s mining revenue.
The association resolved to send a delegation to meet Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the State Chief Secretary. They intend to submit a formal memorandum seeking safeguards for bureaucrats’ dignity and protection from undue criticism.
United in their stance, the bureaucrats responded to Rawat’s remarks, asserting, “Criticism is fine, but we implement only the policies of the government.”
Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including State President and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt and BJP National Co-Treasurer and Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, dismissed Rawat’s allegations. They highlighted that Uttarakhand has recorded a historic surge in mining revenue, questioning how illegal operations could persist under such circumstances.
Praising the government’s strict measures against illegal mining, Bhatt said, “Our revenue from mining in Uttarakhand has increased significantly. Earlier, it was around Rs 300 crore, but today, it has exceeded Rs 1,000 crore. What does this mean? It means that when theft stops and illegal activities are curbed, revenue naturally rises. I congratulate the Chief Minister for this achievement.”
On Friday, Uttarakhand Mining Secretary Brijesh Kumar Sant provided additional details, stating that for the first time since the state’s formation, a total of 159 mining leases and two silica sand mining leases have been allocated through an e-tender cum e-auction process. According to a government release, this approach has significantly boosted revenue collection.
Sant further reported that the department has generated approximately Rs 1,025 crore in mining revenue in the financial year 2024-25. This milestone was achieved through stringent enforcement measures, including cracking down on illegal mining, transportation, and storage.
The Finance Department had initially set a revenue target of Rs 875 crore for the financial year, but the Mining Department has already surpassed this figure and is projected to cross Rs 1,100 crore by the end of the fiscal year.
The IAS Association has strongly objected to Rawat’s statements, reiterating that bureaucrats work within the framework of government policies and should not be subjected to undue criticism.