Gujarat state information commission has directed the Geology and Mining department to upload on its website the details about the mining leases.

In 2007, Pankti Jog of Ahemdabad based NGO Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel had filed RTI application with the collector’s office seeking information about mining leases and the details of lease holders in Porbandar district. When the applicant did not get information within stipulated time period of 30 days, she moved the state information commission.

The commission in its June 27 order said that the public authority should pro-actively disclose the details of recipients of concessions, authorization or permits given by it.

The information has to be displayed on the website of the Geology and Mining department.

“Illegal mining or deep mining without permission of the concern authority is matter of great concern, especially along Coastal Saurastra. During our tour of 1663 km along the coast, we have observed that the information about who is being given lease of mining, what is the tenure and when it was renewed, on what conditions etc are not known to people. Even Panchayat do no have this info,” said Pankti.

Amit Jethwa, the slain RTI activist was working to unearth the mining mafia in the state.

“If all the above information is available in public domain, people will be able to monitor it effectively and can raise their voice against the violation of the lease conditions,” said Pankti.