| File Note: |
It is submitted that the Mining contractor namely M/s Kuldeep Singh & Bros was granted fresh ‘Consent to Operate’ under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no: CTOW/Renewal/LDH3/2024/24569395 & CTOA/Renewal/LDH3/2024/24568582 dated 05.01.2024 each, both expired on 02.05.2024 for mining of sand@ 442649 tonnes per year at mining site of area 10.12 hectare located at Village Kutbewal Arain, Tehsil Ludhiana West, District Ludhiana.
Thereafter, the Mining contractor was granted Consent to Operate’ under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 vide no: CTOW/Fresh/LDH3/2025/23592882 & CTOA/Fresh/LDH3/2025/27772010 dated 01.12.2025 each, both were valid upto 31.12.2025 for mining of sand@ 71,989.4 tonnes at mining site of area 10.12 hectare located at Village Kutbewal Arain, Tehsil Ludhiana West, District Ludhiana.
Now, the mining contractor namely “M/s Kuldeep Singh & Bros” has applied ‘Consent to Operate’ under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 for mining of sand @ 222964 MT (60% of total replenished quantity) at mining site of area 10.12 hectare located at Village Kutbewal Arain, Tehsil Ludhiana West, District Ludhiana.
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) vide letter no. SEIAA/MS/2017/530 dated 03.05.2017 has granted 'Environmental Clearance' for site area of 10.12 hectare bearing khasra no: 1//6 (5-0), 7(3-7), 13(2-10), 14(7-19), 15(8-0), 16(8-0), 17(8-0), 18(8-14), 22(7-6), 23(8-0), 27(8-0), 25(8-0), 2//8(6-4), 9(4-6), 10(4-18), 11(8-0), 12(7-0), 13(8-0), 14(2-6), 17(2-12), 18(8-0), 19(7-0), 20(8-6), 21(8-0), 22(7-0), 23(8-0), 24(8-0), 3//1 (8-0), 2(8-0), 3(8-0), 4(3-2), 7/1(0-18) village Kutbewal Arian, Tehsil Ludhiana West, District Ludhiana to The General Manager – cum – Mining Officer, District Industries Centre, Ludhiana. The Environmental Clearance was valid for 07 years i.e. for period upto 02.05.2024.
The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) vide letter no. SEIAA/MS/2023/1025 dated 09.08.2023 has transferred above said Environmental Clearance to mining contractor i.e. M/s Kuldeep Singh & Bros subject same conditions mentioned in letter no. SEIAA/MS/2017/530 dated 03.05.2017. Now, the SEIAA vide letter no. SEIAA/MS/2024/355 dated 24.05.2024 has extended the Environmental Clearance till 04.04.2027 subject to the same conditions mentioned in the Original Environmental Clearance issued vide SEIAA/MS/2023/530 dated 03.05.2017. The SEIAA has also granted extended transfer in Environmental Clearance already issued vide letter no. SEIAA/MS/2023/1025 dated 09.08.2023, till 04.04.2027.
Thereafter, the SEIAA has granted amended Environmental Clearance for mining of balance quantity 2,22,964 MT (60% of total replenished quantity) issued vide letter no. SEIAA/MS/2025/784 dated 26.12.2025, valid upto 04.04.2027. The Details of the case are as under:
1. The mining contractor has submitted copy of provisional acceptance vide no. 3623-25 dated 05.06.2023 issued by Executive Engineer cum District Mining Officer, Ludhiana for mining cluster no. 03 of Mine Kutbewal Arain, Tehsil Ludhiana West, District Ludhiana vide tender notice 2005/6A dated 22.03.2023.
2. The mining contractor had already deposited Rs. 14400/- vide online receipt No. 864423412 dated 07.05.2024, Rs. 14,400/- vide online receipt No. 902459442 dated 07.05.2025 under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Rs. 14400/- vide online receipt No. 385386700 dated 07.05.2024, Rs. 14,900/- (Rs. 14,400/- Air fee + Rs. 500/- form fee) vide online receipt No. 338143217 dated 07.05.2025 under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 as consents fee, which is adequate upto 19.02.2028 under said act after deduction Rs. 3600/- as penalty under both acts. The project proponent has submitted latest CA certificate dated 07.06.2023 stating that the cost of the project is 1,10,66,225/-.
3. The PP has submitted point-wise compliance of the “Environmental Clearance” granted to it.
The mining site was visited by undersigned on 06.01.2026 and it was observed as under:
1. The project proponent has demarked the mining site.
2. During visit, no mining operation were observed.
3. The depth of previous mining spots was within 03 meters.
4. Weigh bridge has been installed at site.
It is further submitted that the Board vide order no. 103 dated 07.06.2023 has delegated competency to decide the application for ‘Consent to Operate’ for mining of sand and other minerals projects to the Environmental Engineer, Regional Offices for period upto 30.06.2023 irrespective of the site mining area and vide Office Order no. 346 dated 05/10/2023 had extended upto 31/12/2023 and vide Office Order no. 06 dated 02/01/2024 further extended upto 30/06/2024 & vide order no. 304 dated 05.07.2024 further extended upto 31/12/2024, vide office order no. 02 dated 03.01.2025 further extended upto 30.06.2025, vide office order no. 255 dated 19.06.2025 further extended upto 31.12.2025 and principal approval for extension of the same upto 30.06.2026 has been accorded on 05.01.2026 by the Competent Authority of the Board (Copy of the noting is attached please).
Keeping in view of above, it is recommended that ‘Consent to Operate’ under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 & the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 may be granted to the project proponent for the period upto 30.06.2026 for mining of sand@ 2,22,964 MT (60% of total replenished quantity) at mining site of area 10.12 hectare located at Village Kutbewal Arain, Tehsil Ludhiana West, District Ludhiana subject to suitable conditions alongwith special conditions that:
1. The project proponent shall carry out mining as per letter issued by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) vide letter no. SEIAA/MS/2017/530 dated 03.05.2017, letter no. SEIAA/MS/2024/355 dated 24.05.2024 and letter no. SEIAA/MS/2025/784 dated 26.12.2025.
2. The project proponent shall comply with the all the terms & conditions mentioned in the provisional acceptance letter issued by the Executive Engineer –cum– District Mining Officer, Ludhiana vide no. 3623-25-40 dated 05.06.2023.
3. The project proponent shall obtain necessary clearance / permission from the other Departments, if required, on its own level.
4. The industry shall demark the boundary properly before starting mining activity at the site.
5. The Project proponent will carry out mining process is open cast, semi mechanized, without drilling and blast.
6. The contractor shall maintain the computerized record of daily mining/ lifting of sand at site.
7. The project proponent shall submit analysis report of ambient air quality monitoring parameters mentioned in EC conditions as well as noise quality from Board's approved lab/ Board's lab within 01 month.
8. The project proponent shall not carry out mining beyond the allotted area, if the industry found illegal mining beyond the area then consent to operate under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 &the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 will be revoked without any notice.
Competency: The Environmental Engineer, RO-3, Ludhiana.
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