Villagers intercept tippers loaded with sand

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 23

A brave attempt of villagers in Mohali to thwart illegal mining in their area went in vain on Saturday. Residents of Khadri Dumbla village this morning intercepted two tippers full of sand and two full of bajri in the village. They called the police as well as the authorities who then took the tippers to the Mullanpur police station. However, they let them go after a Mining Department official told the police that the tippers had all necessary documents to carry the material.

As per the police, the drivers informed them that they were bringing mud from Miyapur village. As per records, there are no authorised mining site in the area. However, Mining Department officials informed that the sand was being brought from a licensed crusher in Miyapur village.

Mullanpur SHO Bikramjit Singh said: “I would have registered an FIR had the Mining Department asked me to do so. They have given it in writing that the sand was brought from a licensed crusher and thus, we have to let them go.”

Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu pointed out to a lack of a proper policy which creates confusion.

“If there is no authorised mining site in the area, then why are crushers allowed to operate here. Anyone can take the garb that they are coming from a licensed crusher. I will write to the government about the same,” he said.

He pointed out that while the incident pertains to around 11 am in the morning, Ugar Singh of the Mining Department reached there at 3 pm.

Residents alleged that the Mining Department arranged papers for them in the meantime. Mohali DC Gurpreet Kaur Sapra confirmed that licensed crushers in the area were allowed to operate. Kumar Rahul, Secretary and Director, Mining, corroborated the same and said: “A blanket ban on all crushers will be enforced starting July 1, which is done keeping in mind the monsoon season”.

Accused sent to 2-day remand

The six illegal miners accused of attacking Forest Department officials on Monday have been sent to a two-day police remand on Saturday. While the police remand of the four who were earlier held had ended on Saturday, the other two were arrested on Friday and were to be produced in a court on Saturday.