Admn recommends action against sand contractors for irregularities

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, March 12

The district administration has recommended action against the contractors of two quarries in Fazilka district for allegedly violating digging norms.

The Deputy Commissioner’s office shot off a letter to Director Industries, Punjab, today to take stern action against the contractors of quarries at Sukhera Bodla and Mohar Singh Wala villages in Fazilka district.

Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia said that during the inspection of the quarries, it has come to the notice of the officials that the contractors had dug the quarries much deeper than the stipulated depth of 10 ft approved by the government.

The excavation of sand from these quarries had also been stopped till further directions. “The licence of quarry-II situated in Rana village had been cancelled two months ago following irregularities,” said the DC.

The Deputy Commissioner held a meeting of senior officers, including Nodal Officer-cum-Additional Deputy Commissioner Ranbir Singh Mudhal; SSP Fazilka Ketan Baliram Patil and officials of the Industries Department on the issue.

The DC has directed the officials concerned and contractors of the legal quarries to install CCTV cameras to prevent any illegal activities there.

An information board will also be installed at the quarry site mentioning the area, ‘khasra’ number and approved depth etc on the board. The administration has also decided to install cameras on link roads to identify the vehicles carrying the sand.

An official of the government department will visit every quarry daily at 5 pm to prevent digging after the allowed time. Excavation is not allowed from 5 pm to 7 am.

CCTV cameras to be installed 

• The DC has directed the officials concerned and contractors of the legal quarries to install CCTV cameras to prevent any illegal activities there.
• The administration has also decided to install cameras on link roads to identify the vehicles carrying the sand. 

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