Minister orders crackdown on illegal mining in Panchkula

Panchkula, April 19

Taking cognisance of the complaints of illegal mining at Khedawali and Karanpur villages in the district, Sports Minister Sandeep Singh directed the District Mining Officer that with the help of police force, illegal mining should be stopped by this evening and the agencies involved in it blacklisted.

The minister issued these orders during a meeting of the District Grievances Redressal Committee held at the rest house of the Public Works Department in Sector 1 today. More than 24 complaints were taken up at the meeting. A maximum number of cases were disposed of on the spot while the remaining were directed to be disposed of within the stipulated time frame.

The minister also directed that the illegal huts set up at the mining site should also be removed with immediate effect. The complainant had said in the past one month, gravel had been removed from the land of Gram Panchayat through illegal mining, which has caused a huge revenue loss to the government.

The minister said if mining was found anywhere more than 10 feet in six mining zones in the district, then the site should be sealed immediately.

Deputy Commissioner Mahavir Kaushik and Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal were also present at the meeting.

On a complaint of illegal occupation at Maheshpur village in Sector 21, the minister said the work of marking permanent construction at the disputed site should be completed within a week and notices under section 408 issued to remove illegal possession.

To solve the problem of rainwater harvesting in Sector 16, a work order worth Rs. 40.54 lakh has been issued by the MC and it will be completed before the start of the rainy season.

On a complaint by residents of Tibbi Majra and Badona Khurd villages that water from stone crushers was being released into the Dangri river, Sandeep Singh directed the officers concerned to take stringent action against such crushers.

What orders say

Sports Minister Sandeep Singh said if mining was found more than 10-foot deep anywhere in six mining zones in the district, the site should be sealed immediately.