Mohali admn moves to curb illegal mining

Tribune News Service

Mohali, March 12

Taking stringent steps to curb illegal mining in the district, the District Mining Officer has reiterated that the administration is taking all steps, including identifying spots to set up nakas to monitor the movement of trucks/tippers carrying sand and gravel.

District Mining Officer Simarpreet Kaur Dhillon said, “The spots identified for special check-points to check illegal mining include the crossing of the Banur-Tepla road and the Zirakpur-Patiala road, Mubarikpur Chowki, the crossing of the Ambala-Kala Amb road, the Lalru-Handesra road near the new grain market, Dera Bassi, and the T-point, Siswan, Majra village and at the T-point, Majri, Kharar.”

She said the department had received reports from block-level officers of some mining activity in Mubarikpur, Kakrali, Sanauli and Nagla, where land had been dug up by 6 to 7 ft. On March 5, the department had written to the District Food and Supplies Controller directing the officer against renewing the licences of brick-kiln owners in Mullanpur and Paroul village, who were purchasing sand from miners sans permit.

Sources said certain villagers today turned up at the mining office after cases were registered against them for illegal mining, expressing ignorance about the mining.

“Villagers claim that land was leased to ‘contractors’ through a verbal agreement and contractors are the culprit. However, we have proceeded as per law. If the land is being used for illegal quarrying, stringent measures against the land owners will be taken,” said District Mining Officer.

Cracking down against rampant mining in the district, 74 FIRs have been registered from April 2017 to February 28 this year. After a surprise check by a team comprising police officials, block-level area officers and the ADC, the police had registered three cases against 24 persons in Dera Bassi and in another case, they had booked 40 persons. Five JCB machines were impounded. One more case was registered in Mullanpur where a tipper loaded with sand was seized.

To prevent illegal mining, it had also been proposed to install CCTV cameras at sensitive routes.

Mohali SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal said, “At Majri and Mullanpur, CCTV cameras have been installed and we are identifying more spots for it.”