Minister gets cracking on illegal mining

Tribune News Service

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Ambala, March 13

Mines and Geology Minister Mool Chand Sharma paid a surprise visit to different parts of the district, especially areas along the Markanda rivulet in Naraingarh and the Begna rivulet in Shahzadpur, amid reports of illegal mining.

He was shocked to see how illegal mining had wreaked havoc on the ecology of the area. “Riverbeds have been devastated. They have been dug up over 50-ft at multiple locations,” he said.

Following his directions, the district police booked the owners of three illegal screening plants — two in Dera village and one in Toka village — on the complaints lodged by the mining department.

Local residents told the minister that many illegal crushers were operating at unauthorised mining sites and were drawing natural resources like sand and gravel without any check.

The mining and the police authorities, meanwhile, accused each other of inaction. While the mining officials expressed displeasure over not getting police protection for catching the culprits during odd hours, the police refuted the allegation and said they were taking immediate action.

Taking a serious note of the issue, the minister ordered immediate sealing of two screening plants found operating without valid permissions, impounding trucks and trolleys carrying sand and gravel from the illegal mining sites and registration of FIRs against those involved in the illegal practice.