Over 6,110 mines shut across Rajasthan, govt seeks reports for revival

Jaipur: The mining sector in the state is facing a major challenge, with more than 6,110 mines lying non-operational across Rajasthan, according to a departmental review conducted by the mines department.

Jaipur reported 1,011 closed mines, while Ajmer recorded the highest number at 1,049, followed by Jodhpur with 1,018. Rajsamand reported 709 shut mines, Bhilwara 882, Bikaner 424, Bharatpur 401, Udaipur 318 and Kota 298 inactive mining leases.

“In view of the worsening situation, we have initiated efforts to prepare a revival strategy for closed mining leases. A recent meeting of senior mines department officials discussed measures to restart inactive mines and remove administrative hurdles,” a senior official said.

The department has now sought detailed reports from all districts to identify the reasons behind closures and explore solutions for resuming operations at the earliest.

Officials said the shutdowns are linked to a combination of administrative delays, legal hurdles and weak market demand. “Around 1,879 mining leases are non-operational due to pending Consent to Operate (CTO) approvals and other regulatory clearances,” the official added.

Another 1,319 mines remain shut despite having approvals, largely due to poor market demand and declining commercial viability. “In nearly 554 cases, mining operations are stalled because of pending environmental clearances,” the data stated.

“The department is reviewing the reasons behind the closure of mines across districts. Efforts are being made to identify viable leases that can be revived to increase mining activity and generate employment,” a senior official said.

The Aravalli region has emerged as the worst-affected zone, with nearly 3,890 mining leases lying inactive. Officials cited environmental restrictions and regulatory conditions in the ecologically sensitive region as the primary reasons behind the large number of closures.

“Prolonged delays in restarting operations could impact employment, exports and infrastructure-related activities across Rajasthan,” said a stakeholder.