Shimla, July 30 -- Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday said that the revenue generated from extraction of minerals in the state has registered an increase of 70% in the last three years. CM, while chairing the meeting of the mining wing of industries department, said that the revenue from major and minor minerals has increased from Rs.200 crore in the financial year 2021-22 to Rs.340 crore in 2025-26. He said that the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttarakhand have imposed additional charges on the transportation of minor minerals originating from Himachal Pradesh. "This has led to a decline in the movement of minerals from the border areas of the state, thereby affecting revenue generation" said the chief minister. He directed the department to take up the matter with the neighbouring states through appropriate legal and administrative channels. He further said that the Centre has not revised the royalty rates of limestone since 2014, which has adversely impacted the state's revenue. The state government would strongly pursue the matter to secure its legitimate dues, Sukhu said. Sukhu directed the concerned departments to ensure that mineral extraction in the state is carried out in a scientific and environmentally sustainable manner. The chief minister said that development and environmental conservation must go hand in hand and that natural resources should be exploited strictly in accordance withthe prescribed rules and standards....