Illegal mining: Sand mafia active in Tarn Taran villages
TARNTARAN: Despite the state government’s efforts to stop illegal sand mining, the mafia is illegal ly mining sand from Bea sand Sutlej rivers, endangering the fertility of nearby land, in the border district.
The mining department has marked 8 spots for mining in the border district but owing to government’ s apathy, auction of only one spot at Jaloke village has taken place. The sand mafia is using rickety boats for stealing sand from Rakh Gagrewal village, Chak Gagrewal and Bhalojala falling in sub-division Khadoor Sahib, 30 km from here. Sand mafia is also active inKarmuw ala village ,25 km from here.
The Congress government had issued directions to put an end to illegal sand mining. With passing time the campaign seems to be shelved. The mafia reportedly sell the sand illegally at ₹1,000 per 100 cubic feet. The market rates for the same is ₹35,00 to 4,000.
One of the residents of nearby villages on condition of anonymity said, “Since two months, on the instigation of local leadership, the illegal sand mining has increased here .” The resident said, “People come in rickety boats, fill the boat with sand and flee using the river, causing hurdles for police to arrest them.”
Mining officer Krishan Lal B hag at said ,“We have conducted many raids to curb sand mining in Gagrewal village. But sometimes the accused flee from the spot before we reach.” HTC