THE TURNAROUND MAN: Dr SUBODH AGARWAL

Jaipur: There are times when comes forth an officer, who by his sheer will and brilliant management and administrative skills, changes the direction and condition of a department about which the general perception of the public was somewhat different. While such officers are too few and far between, as of today, one shining example of such an officer is Additional Chief Secretary Dr Subodh Agarwal, who not only changed the image of the Mines and Petroleum Department but also brought it to the forefront. The contribution of mining sector has played an important role in the progress of the region in the last two and a half years.

Skilled leadership, team spirit, and solid financial and administrative management are the key to success. Additional Chief Secretary of the Mines and Petroleum Department, Subodh Agarwal, has ‘reshuffled’ both departments. The Mining Department had been hit hard with the blot of illegal mining, but it has now overhauled itself into the State government’s ‘Star Department’.

Agarwal not only stopped the illegal mining in the region but under his leadership, a historic campaign was started in the region, which has been going on for 240 days now. After the Brij Chaurasi case, Agarwal started a campaign to end illegal mining from the root, which uprooted the mining mafia. In these 240 days of the campaign, about 4,700 cases were registered, 1,160 FIRs were registered and 723 people were arrested, which is a record in itself.

The discovery of precious minerals in the subsurface of the region and the preparation of their blocks through their online auction has strengthened the economy of the region. A record 17 mineral blocks have been auctioned during Agarwal’s tenure. District-wise plots of minor minerals are also prepared and auctioned online.

By order of the Supreme Court, gravel mining was closed in the region for about 3 years. Agarwal conducted a study of the entire case and prepared a road map for strong advocacy in the Supreme Court. This hard work bore great results as legal mining of gravel was allowed in the region. Due to this, the public got relief and the government is also getting revenue.

Agarwal brought an amnesty scheme for the recovery of old arrears. This has resulted in a revenue of more than Rs 72 crore in just ten months. He prepared a plan for the protection of geo-heritage sites. The discovery of minerals like potash and rare earth and the rapid development of their blocks is also the result of careful monitoring and better management by Dr Subodh Agarwal.

Agarwal’s contribution to pipeline projects for cooking gas in Kota and Jaipur, timely completion of refineries and increasing petroleum revenue will also be remembered forever.

On the whole, it can be said that the trust with which the Chief Minister entrusted Dr Subodh Agarwal with the responsibility of the Mines & Petroleum Department, has been proved correct and is a testament to the confidence of the CM, as now, the Mines Department is one of the leading departments in the region in terms of revenue generation.