Uttarakhand Assembly Witnesses Heated Debate on Illegal Mining, Congress MLAs Stage Walkout
The Question Hour in the Uttarakhand state assembly in Gairsain on Friday commenced with a contentious discussion on illegal mining, leading to Opposition Congress MLAs staging a symbolic walkout after expressing dissatisfaction with the government's response.
Congress Raises Alarms Over Environmental and Safety Risks
Congress legislators described illegal mining as a serious concern, citing remarks by former Chief Minister and current Haridwar MP Trivendra Singh Rawat, who had earlier raised the matter in the Lok Sabha. They also referenced allegations by BJP MLA Arvind Pandey about rampant illegal mining activities across the state.
Opposition members argued that illegal mining poses significant environmental risks and that speeding dumpers carrying mining material endanger commuters on roads. The issue was initially raised by Congress MLA Virendra Kumar, sparking a heated exchange with ruling party members, including another opposition legislator, Qazi Nizamuddin.
Government Highlights Revenue Growth and Enforcement Measures
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal informed the House that 208 mining leases had been approved, covering 4,366 hectares of land. He reported a substantial increase in mining revenue: Rs 472 crore in 2022-23, Rs 645 crore in 2023-24, and a significant jump to Rs 1,040 crore in 2024-25.
Addressing measures to curb illegal mining, Uniyal stated that district-level teams headed by the district magistrate had been formed. In 2024–25, action was taken in 2,252 cases related to illegal mining, transportation, and storage, resulting in a recovery of Rs 82.1 crore. For 2025–26, up to January 2026, authorities acted in 1,553 cases and recovered Rs 39 crore.
Transparency and Technological Interventions
Uniyal added that policies and action plans are in place to ensure a transparent and rule-compliant mining system. He emphasized that night-vision drones are being deployed to monitor illegal mining activities, enhancing surveillance capabilities.
He clarified operational guidelines, noting, "Mining can be carried out from sunrise to sunset and not thereafter. Mining can be done up to 3 metres depth."
Symbolic Protest and Return
Dissatisfied with the government's replies, Congress MLAs staged a symbolic walkout from the House. However, they returned shortly afterwards, highlighting the ongoing tensions over environmental governance and regulatory enforcement in Uttarakhand's mining sector.
