Shimla
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged serious lapses in governance in Himachal Pradesh, exposing large-scale illegal mining and financial irregularities in its latest audit report.
According to the report, over 40,000 cases of illegal mining were recorded between 2018 and 2023, pointing to weak enforcement and lack of monitoring by the authorities. The audit noted that regulatory mechanisms remained ineffective, allowing violations to continue unchecked.
The CAG observed that the mining department failed to prepare proper plans and lacked scientific assessment of mineral reserves. Key systems like GPS tracking of vehicles, flying squads, and district-level monitoring units were either not implemented or remained non-functional.
The report also highlighted financial mismanagement, especially in the utilisation of District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) funds. Several projects remained incomplete, and funds meant for development and environmental protection were either underutilized or poorly managed.
The findings indicate a serious breakdown in oversight and accountability, raising concerns over revenue loss and environmental damage.
The report has now put pressure on the state government to strengthen enforcement, improve transparency, and fix administrative lapses.
