Surjewala’s allegations on illegal mining baseless: Panwar
Haryana Mines and Geology Minister Krishan Lal Panwar has refuted Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala’s claim that illegal mining is happening in 14 districts of the state with government support.
He said Congress leaders were spreading falsehoods to mislead people. Panwar claimed that he had personally visited Pichopa Kalan in Charkhi Dadri and found no evidence of illegal mining.
Some districts mentioned by Surjewala, like Kaithal, did not have any significant mines or minor minerals, he claimed.
The minister further said the department had already issued detailed instructions to the Deputy Commissioners regarding formulating a three-tier network, including naka/ checkposts and flying squads to curb illegal mining. Sixteen checkposts had been set up in Yamunanagar.
Since January 2025, 13,282 vehicles had been checked, and 575 vehicles carrying mining material illegally, or without e-Rawana had been seized.
The department had also replaced the old e-Rawana system with a portal developed by the NIC, fixing previous loopholes. The new system was now integrated with CCTV cameras and weighing scales to curb illegal mining.
District and state level task forces had been set up to monitor illegal mining and the transportation of minerals, he said, adding that the government had constituted the Haryana State Enforcement Bureau to curb illegal mining, and a Standard Operating Procedure had been finalised to ensure coordination between the bureau and other departments.
