Illegal mining in Nurpur: State to seek boundary demarcation with Punjab

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 27

Himachal will seek demarcation of its boundary with Punjab along its border areas in Nurpur with the help of satellite imagery so as put an end to the illegal mining being indulged in by people from Punjab by taking advantage of an unclear boundary line. This was stated by Revenue and Health Minister Kaul Singh Thakur during question hour in the Assembly today.

“I fully agree that some people of Punjab are taking undue benefit of this unclear demarcation in the boundary between Himachal and Punjab in Nurpur area and indulging in illegal mining activity,” he stated.

The issue was raised by Ajay Mahajan during question hour. “Taking advantage of the unclear demarcation of inter-state boundary, many persons from Punjab are indulging in illegal mining in the Chakki khud, which needs to be checked after getting the boundary demarcated,” he urged.

Thakur said if there was no response from Punjab he would take it up with his Punjab counterpart and get the demarcation done with the help of digitized maps and satellite imagery. Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) has already taken up the matter with his Punjab counterpart but the response is still awaited.

Thakur informed that Deputy Commissioner (Kangra) had taken up the issue of demarcation of inter-state boundary from Khanni to Kandwal and Kandwal to Jagat Giri Ashram along the Chakki khud with his Pathankot counterpart on June 29. The issue was raised with Punjab even in 2005 but no response was received from Punjab.

Replying to a question about announcements for opening of new institutions, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh informed that a total of 173 institutions had been opened in the state between January 2013 and February 2015. “Out of these, 104 have been notified and 100 made functional and a total of 749 posts of different categories created,” he said.

Replying to the question by Mahender Singh, Ravinder Ravi, Suresh Kumar and RR Koundal, the Chief Minister assured that all the 382 vacant lying posts would be filled shortly. The BJP members said the announcements were being made to open institutions. But neither had the buildings come up nor was there any staff.

In reply to a query by Ravinder Singh Ravi and Vijay Agnihotri about the vacant posts of Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar and Patwari, Revenue Minister informed that 17 posts of tehsildar, 34 posts of Naib tehsildar and 650 posts of Patwari were lying vacant. He said these would be filed at the earliest.