JAIPUR: Several official files and records were gutted in fire that broke out at the mines department office on Monday morning. The department is ascertaining the loss caused by the fire and an estimate of the files that have been destroyed.
According to sources, the fire broke out around 5am in room number 508 in the mines department building near Secretariat. The guard at the building informed the mining officials, following which fire station was informed. An official at the fire department said, “Fire-tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze was brought under control in 30 minutes. Nobody was injured.”
Sources said that files related to penalties of short-term-permit (STP) and mining vehicles were reduced to ashes. “Prima facie it appears that the fire broke out due to short-circuit. Three computers were also destroyed, which had crucial data,” said the sources. Officials said that no data related with large sand mining leases was destroyed. The Supreme Court will hear sand mining case on April 15. On November 16, 2017, Supreme Court restrained 82 large sand mine lease holders in the state from carrying out mining of sand and bajri in the state. Since then, many infrastructure projects and private housing projects and residents are purchasing sand illegally after paying exorbitant price.
Now, after the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) recommended to issue environmental clearance (EC) to valid Letter of Intent (LOI) holders, this will be the first hearing in the apex court. A source said, “The CEC was appointed by the Supreme Court to look into the issue of illegal sand mining. After physical inspection, it recommended ministry of environment, forest and climate change to issue environmental clearance to valid LOI holders within three months.”