Campaign against illegal riverbed mining in full swing

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 16

Different teams of the anti-mining vigilance cell raided different cities for the fourth consecutive day today in order to check illegal mining in the state’s riverbeds.

The teams have impounded dumpers and sealed stone crushers. They have also imposed heavy penalty on miners for flouting norms.

Several teams comprising senior and experienced police officers have conducted raids at Haldwani, Udham Singh Nagar, Ramnagar and Nainital. SSPs of Dehradun and Haridwar districts respectively have also conducted raids to check unauthorised mining in the riverbeds.

The Chief Executive Officer of anti-mining vigilance cell, IG Sanjay Gunjiyal, has given instructions to police officers to be more vigilant to tighten the noose around those involved in illegal mining in the state’s riverbeds.

The anti-mining vigilance team had imposed a penalty of Rs 11 crore on crushers and leaseholders for flouting norms in Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts in the last week.

Two suspended

Meanwhile, taking cognisance of a series of complaints about the lethargic approach of police personnel, Chief Executive Officer of the anti-mining vigilance cell, IG Sanjay Gunjiyal, suspended head constable Pratap Singh Negi and constable Ashish Singh Bisht on Monday.

The two were suspended after they were found guilty of leaking information about the movement of the anti-mining vigilance cell teams to unauthorised miners. He said strict departmental action would be taken against police personnel who pass on information about movement of anti-mining vigilance cell teams to any unauthorised person.

Gunjiyal said police teams will continue to tighten the noose around those involved in illegal mining in the state.