Illegal mining comes to the fore in Hoshiarpur

The hills adjoining Barapur village in Hoshiarpur have been dug up to twenty-five feet with heavy machinery by operators of a stone crusher. Huge quantities of stones and soil were taken away in tippers. When the panchayat members and villagers reached the mining spot last night, the mining mafia fled with JCBs and tippers.

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Sarpanch Santosh Kumari of Barapur village and former Sarpanch Surinder Pal said, “Last night when we heard the noise of illegal mining in the hills in the forest land of panchayat land of Barapur village, we reached there along with some of the villagers. There we saw JCB machines, pokelane machines and about half a dozen tippers were parked. When we reached there, the people of the mining mafia ran away with machines and tippers. When we went to the spot again in the morning, we found that they had mined about twenty to twenty-five feet in about two acres of land and had stolen the stones and soil.”

They said that in this regard, the officials of the Forest Department, and Mining Department were informed. After which both the departments reached the spot and took stock of the damage. Apart from registering a case against the said mining mafia under the Mining Act and the Forest Department Act, they have also demanded the police to register a case of theft. Forest department block officer Kiran Kumar told the reporters, “When we visited the spot with the panchayat, it became clear that illegal mining has been done. The panchayat is saying that the land belongs to Barapur. Still, after marking it, action will be taken against the culprits.”

Mining and Geology Department SDO Harjinder Singh tol the reporters, “The sarpanch’s complaint has been received and whatever action is required will be taken. The panchayat did not tell anyone’s name. We will investigate and find out who has done illegal mining. Then action will be taken against those found guilty in the investigation.”