Fly ash mining under lens: 13 dumpers impounded, released
Acting on a tip-off about illegal mining of fly ash from the ash dyke of Panipat Thermal Power Station (PTPS) on Assandh Road, Panchayat and Mining Minister Krishan Lal Panwar conducted an inspection along with a police team. The operation led to the impounding of 13 dumpers, which were later released after document verification.
The minister, suspecting illegal activities, found that trucks laden with fly ash were exiting the ash dyke at intervals of just five minutes. Acting on his directions, the police stopped and inspected the vehicles, impounding seven loaded trucks and six empty dumpers for lack of immediate documentation.
The impounded vehicles were taken to the Thermal police post, and a thorough investigation was carried out the next day. SI Savinder Singh, incharge of the Thermal police post, said, “All the documents were checked on Wednesday morning and found valid. No illegal mining was detected at the site.”
As per official records, PTPS had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shree Cement for lifting fly ash from the ash dyke in compliance with the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) directions. The MoU, valid until 2027, allows Shree Cement to extract fly ash at Rs 152 per tonne.
Approximately 108 lakh metric tonne of fly ash is stored in the ash dykes of PTPS. The dumpers in question were transporting fly ash from the dykes to Shree Cement plants under the agreement.
With all documents validated, the police released the 13 dumpers and operations resumed. “After confirming the validity of the documents, the vehicles were released and work has started again,” added SI Singh.
The incident underscores the vigilance required in regulating mining operations while ensuring compliance with legal frameworks.
