Residents block traffic against illegal mining in Anandpur Sahib

Tribune News Service

Anandpur Sahib, January 3

A large number of residents staged a protest alleging that state government as well as officials concerned had failed to check illegal mining and collection of “goonda tax” in the area. Last week, the protesters cutting across party lines had formed an organisation “Haryaval Punjab” to raise the issue of illegal mining.

Local leaders from the SAD, BJP and the ruling Congress, including Sandeep Singh Kalota, Satvir Singh and Dr Achhar Sharma, addressed the protesters. Initially, the protesters staged a dharna at the crusher zone in Agampur village. Later, they blocked the traffic for one hour on the Anandpur Sahib-Garhshankar road.

Kalota and Satvir Singh, who were leading the protesters, alleged that illegal mining and collection of “goonda tax” from tippers ferrying the sand and gravel was rampant in area under political patronage. Due to political pressure, the officials had turned a blind eye towards it and they had no option but to protest against it, they alleged.

Lifting the blockade around 3 pm, the protesters announced that large-scale protests would be staged across the district in case no action was taken against the offenders.

The authorities, however, denied that there was any laxity on their part against people involved in illegal mining. SDO, Mining Department, Satwinder Singh said action is taken against the offenders as soon as they get any complaint. There was, however, no complaint regarding collection of the “goonda tax”, he said, adding that the local police could be contacted to lodge any such complaint.

No laxity: Admn

There is no laxity on our part against people involved in illegal mining. Action is taken against the offenders as soon as we get any complaint. — Satwinder Singh, SDO, Mining Department