Dist admn gets tough on illegal sand mining

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 26

With the change of guard in the state government, the district administration has woken up to rampant illegal sand mining on the Ravi riverbed in the district.

It has taken up the cudgels along with the Punjab Police and the Industrial Department to curb the menace. Illegal sand mining is rampant in villages located in Ramdass and Ajnala from where the Ravi flows.

Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha along with the SSP Amritsar (Rural) J Elanchezian carried out a raid on the intervening night of March 24 and 25.

Though officials claimed that there was no illegal sand mining carried out at the time of the raid, they said a comprehensive plan had been made to stem illegal sand mining.

Sangha said suggestions had been invited from the authorities concerned, including industrial department officials, for making a strategy to control illegal mining.

He said at present, all contracts related to sand mining had been ended and there was an auction of sand mines. Those persons who were involved in mining in an illegal manner would be dealt with iron hand.

SSP Amritsar (rural) said police officials had been asked to conduct night patrolling to curb the menace which had deteriorated the environment in the area.

He said more police jeeps had been included in the patrolling. He said the SHOs concerned had also been told to conduct the patrolling.

“We have also identified certain places to install CCTV cameras to check the illegal movement of vehicles carrying sand,” Elanchezian said.

He said the Police Department was always ready in case Industrial Department officials seek security help while conducting raids. Awareness campaigns would also be organised, urging people to desist from illegal mining.