Monitor stone crushers, act tough against illegal mining, orders DC

Our Correspondent

Nahan, August 5

In a bid to clamp down on illegal mining activities in Sirmaur district, Deputy Commissioner Sumit Khimta chaired a crucial meeting at the district headquarters today. The meeting, held in the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, focused on evaluating ongoing efforts and devising new strategies to curb unauthorised mining in the region.

During the meeting, the DC emphasised the need for rigorous monitoring of the 35 stone crushers operating within the district. He issued strict directives to ensure that none of these engage in illegal activities. Continuous inspections were recommended as a measure to guarantee compliance with legal standards.

Providing a detailed report on the situation, the DC revealed that 350 cases related to illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of minerals have been registered by the police department during the current fiscal year. These cases have resulted in the collection of fines amounting to Rs 18 lakh. Additionally, the Mining Department has filed 102 cases, from which Rs 8 lakh has been recovered in 50 instances.

In his address, the DC called upon the departments concerned to take effective measures to prevent illegal mining in the district. He urged officials from the revenue, police, mining and forest departments to maintain constant patrols and surveillance to identify and act against those involved in unlawful mining activities. Strict action in accordance with the law was advised for violators.

To strengthen the crackdown in Paonta Sahib region, the DC instructed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Paonta Sahib to establish a joint committee. This committee, comprising officials from the mining, police, and forest departments, will focus on curbing illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of minerals in the area.

District Mining Officer Kulbhushan Sharma, who conducted the meeting, provided a comprehensive overview of the Mining Department’s activities and initiatives aimed at controlling illegal mining. Other key attendees included Paonta Sahib SDM Gunjeet Cheema, DSP Headquarters Ramakant Thakur, Nahan Tehsildar Upendra Kumar, General Manager of district industries centre Sakshi Sati, and officials from the revenue and forest departments.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to enforce the law and protect the district’s natural resources from illegal exploitation.