Underutilised minerals can boost J&K revenue by up to Rs 20,000 crore annually

Jammu and Kashmir can generate additional annual revenue of Rs 15,000–20,000 crore in the next five to seven years by tapping into its underutilised mining sector, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday.

Addressing the Strategic Management Forum conference on policymaking and strategic planning for achieving Viksit Bharat by 2047 at IIM Jammu, Sinha spoke about the challenges and opportunities facing India in a rapidly evolving global environment and the role of policymakers and business leaders in driving growth.

“J&K holds immense potential in limestone, sapphire, lithium and other minerals. With strategic planning, in the next five to seven years, we can generate an additional annual revenue of Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore,” the lieutenant governor said.

Sinha also called for strengthening the hydropower sector in the Union Territory and suggested amendments to the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) to ensure it remains aligned with changing economic requirements.

“Our focus should be on macroeconomic stability and high investment in education and health. Digital tools, participatory governance, transparency, accountability, speedy project implementation and effective public services for a growing population will be key for all-round development,” he said.

The lieutenant governor said India’s manufacturing and services sectors are showing strong growth, adding that there is renewed confidence among industry leaders to compete globally.

“I also see our village industries and the handloom and handicraft sector competing with the best. The prime minister’s clarion call for Swadeshi has given fresh impetus to this sector,” Sinha said.

He also stressed the responsibility of the bureaucracy, stating that every file represents the lives and future of millions of people and must be handled with sensitivity.

Sinha further said that strengthening the four pillars of Viksit Bharat—women, youth, farmers and the poor—is essential, and added that technology-driven systems are crucial to addressing challenges such as corruption and terrorism.