Teams formed to check illegal mining in Fazilka

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, March 28

The district administration has constituted 13 teams to check illegal sand mining in the district. These teams comprise senior civil and police administration officials with Harjit Singh Hundal, SP, Fazilka, as nodal officer.

The district is known for producing high quality coarse sand considered to be useful for construction activities. Fazilka town is situated along the Sutlej and the sand is excavated from the riverbed from where it changed its course.

An investigation by The Tribune revealed that the state government suffered losses to the tune of crores due to illegal sand mining in the last about five months. The mafia had been operating under the patronage of influential politicians and with alleged connivance of Industries Department officials.

Official sources said earlier there were nine authorised quarries in the district. The state government had granted licences to excavate sand from the quarries situated in Gaganke, Badha, Miani Basti, Gurka, Hasta Kalan and Kanwali villages in Fazilka subdivision and Ruknakasam, Amirkhas and Dharmuwala village of Jalalabad subdivision.

Sources said the government did not extend the licences after October 2016. Since then the excavation work had been going on in an illegal manner resulting in heavy losses to the exchequer.

“Those involved in the illegal trade will not be spared at any cost,” said Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia.