State delaying strict laws to curb illegal mining

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 19

The suggestions by the Kangra police to curb illegal mining and sale of psychotropic drugs have been ignored by the state government.

To check the rampant illegal mining in the district, previous SP Sanjeev Gandhi had proposed some amendments to the Mine and Mineral Act of the state government. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in public meetings had accepted the suggestions and announced that these would be implemented.

At present, under the Act, JCB machines and tippers that are seized by the law enforcing agencies are released after a fine of Rs 25,000. The amount is very small as compared to the profits that illegal mining brings to those involved in it.

The police had moved a suggestion to the state government that the law should be strengthened like forest law and vehicles impounded should only be released through court and not by imposition of minor fine.

The police had also registered a case of theft of state property against those caught mining illegally. However, the state government is yet to make amendments to the Act that can act as a deterrent. With the cases of illegal mining becoming more rampant after elections, the need for strengthening the law was being felt more by the law enforcement agencies.

The police had also registered more than 100 cases under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act against those selling drugs illegally. Then SP Gandhi had made a suggestion to the state government that it should be made a cognisable offence. At present, even though police officials can arrest the person under the act but they require the permission of local drug inspector to proceed in the case.

The police had demanded that the law should be made stringent and the police be allowed to proceed in the cases.

The police registered more than 100 cases but chargesheets against the accused have been filed just in a few cases by the Drugs Department.

Sources here said one psychotropic drug capsule cost just about Rs 2 where as it was sold at Rs 25.

The suggestion 

• At present, under the  Mine and Mineral Act, JCB machines and tippers, which are seized by the law enforcing agencies, are released after a paying a fine of Rs 25,000. The amount is very small as compared to the profits that illegal mining brings to those involved in it
• The police had moved a suggestion to the state government that the law should be more strict like forest law and the vehicles impounded should only be released through court