Illegal feldspar mining busted in Beawar, landowner fined 4 crore

Ajmer: The mines department in Beawar district, Monday, unearthed illegal feldspar mining at Gopalsagar village in Masuda block and imposed a penalty of around Rs 4 cr on the landowner. An FIR has also been lodged against him.

A joint team of the mines department and police found a large pit—5 metre deep, 80 metre long, and 40 metre wide—filled with extracted feldspar during a surprise inspection. Officials said the land, meant for agriculture, belongs to Harji Bheel of Gopalsagar village.

According to village records, Bheel had allowed Jai Narayan of Gopalsagar and his relative Sanwar Singh from Fathegarh to carry out mining on his farmland. Neither had a lease nor any official permission to mine, officials said. As a result, the mine was seized and legal action initiated. Beawar district has significant deposits of feldspar, quartz, and silicon minerals., prompting an ongoing crackdown on illegal mining.