Jammu, Feb 27, 2026 : Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdhary on Friday announced the cancellation of all Mineral Dealer Licenses (MDLs) and unveiled strict measures to curb illegal mining across Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters, Chowdhary said the government has taken a firm stand against illegal extraction of minerals and diversion of natural water bodies. Referring to his recent visit to Khundwal, he alleged that unregulated mining had caused serious environmental damage, including diversion of a dam that led to flooding in adjoining areas.
He described the situation in Belicharana and Khundwal as alarming and warned that failure to immediately halt illegal mining could endanger downstream areas such as Chatha and nearby localities.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed that no vehicle will be allowed to leave any crusher unit without a valid “Parchi” issued through the authorised system of the Mining Department. Transportation of minerals without proper documentation, he said, will not be tolerated.
In a significant reform, Chowdhary made GPS tracking mandatory for all vehicles, including dumpers operating at crusher units or engaged in mining activities.
“No vehicle will be allowed to operate without GPS tracking,” he asserted.
He said satellite monitoring has also been introduced to track vehicle movement and verify authorised mineral extraction, enabling authorities to identify violations and prevent misuse.
Chowdhary further announced that all Mineral Dealer Licenses stand cancelled with immediate effect, alleging that the previous system had facilitated illegal mineral disposal. He added that directions have been issued to review all Stone Tipper Permits (STPs), with cancellations likely wherever irregularities are found.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, he said no company or crusher unit vehicle will be permitted to operate without GPS and proper authorisation, stressing that illegal mining will not be allowed under any circumstances.
