Over 60% posts in Commissioner of Geology & Mining office are vacant, says Gujarat govt

In written replies provided to similar questions asked during Question Hour, the government said that 20 of the 50 Class-1 posts in the same department were lying vacant, while 42 of the total 67 Class-2 posts were also lying vacant.

During discussions in the House, Congress legislator C J Chavda claimed that 500 vacancies that exist for Class-3 employees are primarily because the state government has not recruited enough personnel in the Class-4 category who could be promoted to Class-3. When Chavda sought a timeline from the state government for filling up the vacancies to “control the mining mafia”, the minister said, “While the 46 vacant positions of drivers have been filled up through outsourcing, 65 vacancies connected with mineral exploration are being considered to be cancelled (abolished).”

About 330 vacancies for chemical assistance, royalty inspector, and posts for the disabled among others will be filled immediately, Rajput assured the House.

When Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadiya alleged that the government is playing into the hands of the mining mafia by not filling up the vacant posts, the minister retorted saying that the government has taken strict action against those engaging in mineral theft and enlisted the details of cases registered. “In the year 2018-19, a total of 7,734 cases of illegal mining were registered and Rs 109.88 crore was recovered; during 2019-20, over 7,400 cases were filed and Rs 106.34 crore was recovered; during 2020-21 over 7,100 cases were filed and Rs 103.22 crore was recovered; during 2021-22, 8,600 cases were filed and Rs 140.64 crore was recovered. During the financial year 2022-23, 9,475 cases were filed and Rs 199.07 crore recovered.”

The figures presented by the minister show that in the last five years, the number of cases filed against the mining mafia has risen by 22 per cent.