Admn launches helpline No. against illegal sand mining

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 16

Unabated illegal sand mining has caused headache for the Mining Department and the District Administration. They are calling upon public to register their complaints on web a portal.

The Deputy Commissioner, KS Sangha, said, a helpline number 94638-19838 was launched in the city to register complaints against illegal sand mining and the same complaints can be registered at the portal.

He informed that officers of drainage, forest, panchayat and pollution control board departments have been authorised to register the FIRs against the illegal mining of minor minerals.

He said teams of officials, drawn from different departments, including, irrigation, drainage, forest and mining was formed under the concerned SDMs to jointly hold meeting and carry out raids to check illegal mining of minor minerals.

The team monthly meets and jointly carries out raids against illegal mining. He said a strict action was invariably taken whenever illegal mining was detected. Besides, cases were filed against those who excavate their land beyond permissible limit under the Public Premises act. Illegal sand mining has been undergoing in full swing with only six quarries being allotted out of a total of 14 in the district. District Mining Department lodged over 100 FIRs after detection of illegal mining this year.