Chandigarh, April 3
The Ropar administration continued to carry out raids against those involved in illegal mining for the second consecutive day today and registered 12 fresh FIRs. While 10 persons were arrested, 29 stone crushers, which were operating without permission, were sealed.

The police has registered FIRs against Mangat Stone Crusher, JK Stone Crusher, Chabbra Stone Crusher, Satkartar Stone Crusher, Dasmesh Stone Crusher, Jaspal Stone Crusher, Dhillon Stone Crusher, Singh Stone Crusher, Bansal Stone Crusher, Super Stone Crusher, Rana Stone Crusher and Lambar Stone Crusher. Apart from tippers and jeeps, four tractors, two earth movers and a car have been seized by the police.

SSP Ropar, JS Aulakh said the stone-crushing units were found violating various provisions laid down by the Punjab Pollution Control Board.

The Punjab Government has now decided to come up with a new policy to control stone crushers. In a meeting convened by Principal Secretary, Industries, AR Talwar in Chandigarh, it has been decided that a draft policy will be prepared wherein only those who have the permit to mine the quarries for sand and gravel, be allowed to set up new stone crushers.

Talking to The Tribune, Talwar said that a meeting was held with Principal Secretary, Science and Technology, Karan Avtar Singh and member secretary, PPCB, Babu Ram. “We have decided to adopt the 2004 policy of the Himachal Pradesh Government on stone crushers. Under the new policy, permission for setting up new crushers will be granted to only those who have specified sites allotted to them for mining the minor minerals. The draft policy will be sent to the Industries Minister and the Cabinet for final approval,” he said.