M A I N   N E W S

FIRs registered against those indulging in illegal mining
Ruchika M. Khanna
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19
The Mohali district administration today swooped down on those indulging in illegal mining of sand and gravel, and registered several FIRs (First Information reports) against 137 persons.

Following the news report in The Tribune today, about large scale illegal mining of minor minerals (sand and gravel) in and around Mohali, the administration conducted surprise checks at various villages falling in Chandigarh’s periphery. Led by the Mohali Deputy commissioner, Varun Roozam, and senior superintendent of police, GPS Bhullar, officials today went around various places and reportedly found that illegal sand mining was being carried out not just in the beds of rivers and rivulets, but also on forest land and private farmland.

The Tribune had today highlighted how illegal mining of these minor minerals was being done on rivulets (where quarrying is not allowed), private farmland and forest area.

The news report mentioned that sand mining is also going on in the belt comprising the villages of Mullanpur- Naya Gaon- Nada, where Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) is in force. It was also highlighted that mining activity is being carried out in areas like Khizrabad village, which have not even been auctioned as quarries by the state government.

Talking to The Tribune, Deputy Commissioner, Varun Roozam, said that though those indulging in illegal mining activity ran away, when they saw the cavalcade of official cars approaching these sites, he has initiated the process to identify the accused. “We have already identified khasra numbers of the land where illegal mining is being done in Khizrabad village, and in Mianpur Chander village. We also found that illegal mining was being done on forest land in Mullanpur and an FIR has been registered for violations of the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) at the Mullanpur police station,” he said.