Dungarpur : The mines of Vagad-Mewar can give royalty worth crores and billions of rupees to the government every year. At the same time, the mines here can also provide permanent employment to the skilled and unskilled hands here. But, due to the policies of the government, each mine of Vagad-Mewar is gradually lying on the ventilator. There was a time when there were more than 100 mines in Dungarpur district of Vagad alone. But now barely two dozen mines are running. When I talked to the mine owners in Vagad-Mewar about the problems related to minerals, they also shared their pain with the magazine.
Used in making soap and cosmetics
Soapstone extracted from the mines of Vagad-Mewar goes to the industrial units of Gujarat and especially Morbi.
Soapstone is used in making bathing soaps, insecticides and also in making cosmetic items like face powder. It is also used in finishing work etc. in steel plants.
The graph has fallen from 90 to 28…
Till ten years ago in Dungarpur district, 80 to 90 mines were producing goods 24 hours a day and each mine was providing employment to 100 people at a time. According to this, more than 9 thousand youth of the district were getting employment every day. But, the government increased the royalty rates drastically. Along with this, 18 percent GST, sale value tax etc. were imposed separately. Due to this, this enterprise is lying on ventilator and more than 90 percent of the mines are closed. If we look at the figures of the Mineral Department, at present only 28 mines are on lease in three blocks Aspur, Dungarpur and Bichhiwada. Their mining work is being done in 900 hectare area. In many of these mines, machines and mining work have stopped.
