Sites auctioned during Akali regime: Punjab Mining Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria

Chandigarh, July 3

Rubbishing allegations of illegal mining made by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, state Mining Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria on Saturday termed these as desperate attempts to gain the lost political ground in the state.

In a statement issued here, Sarkaria said the “illegal mining sites” visited by Sukhbir in Hoshiarpur district were auctioned in the previous SAD-BJP regime. He said there were several attempts by some people to continue illegal mining, but the department acted swiftly against them.

Alleging that Akalis looted the Punjab through sand mafia, Sarkaria said under the Badal regime, the state exchequer was receiving revenue to the tune of Rs 35 to 40 crore annually, which had now increased 10 fold.

“Sukhbir knows that the transparency ensured by the Congress government in mining activities will become an issue in the Assembly poll,” said the minister, adding that Sukhbir was making “useless” visits just for “political” motives.

Sarkaria said the Congress government had framed terms and conditions for contractors, who were earning good income besides supplying sand at affordable rates to people. A spokesperson of the Mining Department said the sites visited by Sukhbir had been allotted through e-auction to Prime Vision Industry Private Limited, 312, 3rd Floor, Vishal Chamber, P-1, Sector 18, Noida, and no illegal mining and machinery was found at the sites. — TNS