Rudraprayag: Mining Department seals stone crusher linked to Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway project
Rudraprayag, June 7
The Mining Department has taken major action against a mobile stone crusher operated by Megha Engineers Private Limited, a company associated with the under-construction Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Railway Project in Rudraprayag.
During an inspection conducted by the Department of Geology and Mining, officials found that the operational validity of the company's stone crusher, located along the Badrinath Highway, had expired in January 2026. Despite the expiry of its authorisation, the crusher was reportedly continuing operations.
Speaking to ANI, Rudraprayag Mining Department Deputy Director Birendra Kumar Singh said, "Our team conducted an investigation of the stone crusher...The investigation revealed that the validity of this crusher was until January 2023. Even after the expiry of the period, the crusher is being operated by them. Deeming it illegal, it was seized on the spot."
Following the inspection, departmental officials immediately sealed the stone crusher. According to officials, the company also has outstanding mining revenue dues of approximately Rs 4.5 crore.
"In addition to this, there is an outstanding mining revenue of about four and a half crores on the company, regarding which correspondence has also been done despite this, no response has been given by the company. Now, further action regarding the reopening of the crusher will be taken only after the amount is deposited by them," he said.
The department stated that further action regarding the operation of the crusher will be considered only after the pending dues are cleared and all statutory procedures are completed. The move is being viewed as a significant enforcement action against violations of mining regulations in the region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is great news for the environment in Uttarakhand. The Badrinath Highway area already suffers from too much dust and noise from these crushers. But I hope the railway project doesn't get delayed because of this - we need better connectivity to Kedarnath and Badrinath for the pilgrims.
Rs 4.5 crore in outstanding dues?! That's not a small amount. And the company didn't even respond to correspondence? This shows how some contractors take advantage of the system. The Mining Department should also check if there are other such violators in the region.
I work in construction in Dehradun - stone crusher licenses expiring and companies operating illegally is very common in Uttarakhand. The real issue is that the department only inspects when someone complains or when the dues become too high. Regular monitoring is needed, not just one-off actions.
As someone from Rudraprayag, I'm glad this happened! These crushers operate near the river and affect water quality too. But I'm also worried - if they don't pay the dues, the railway project might face delays. The government should find a balance between enforcement and development. 😊
Good enforcement action, but I think the department should also look at the parent company Megha Engineers. If they have such big dues for one crusher, what about their other operations? The railway project is important for Uttarakhand's tourism, but companies must follow rules.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.