2 earth-moving machines seized in Phillaur, drivers booked

USE OF HEAVY MACHINES FOR MINING HAS BEEN BANNED, BUT CONTRACTORS ARE DEPLOYING THESE MACHINES WITH IMPUNITY

JALANDHAR: The rural police and the mining department seized two poclain machines and one JCB machine being illegally used at the Salkiana quarry in Phillaur late Monday evening.

The use of machines like JCBS, poclains and excavators for mining has been banned, but even them contractors are deploying these machines with impunity to extract huge quantity of sand.

However, no action has been yet initiated against the contractor of the mining site.

The Phillaur police, on the recommendation of the mining department, have only registered against three unidentified people under Section 379 (theft) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Mines and Minerals Act, 1957.

On Monday, a team, comprising senior industrial promotional officer (SIPO), Phillaur sub-divisional magistrate, and the local police conducted an inspection around 7 pm at the Salkiana quarry and spotted illegal mining by machines.

The FIR states that a JCB and poclain machine were used for mining at the quarry and, after seeing the police and mining officials, their drivers ran away from the spot leaving machines on the site.

“The size of this quarry is less than five hectare and, as per rules, no machine can be used for mining at this site. Machines have been seized but drivers are absconding,” said inquiry officer ASI Iqbal Singh.

He said that the case was registered on the recommendation of SIPO Manjeet Singh.

Asked about the action against the contractor of the mining site, the SIPO advised mediapersons to contact the general manager (GM) of the industries department Amarjit Singh as he has followed the orders of the GM and he is the right person to answer this.

GM Amarjit Singh, however, did not give an appropriate answer and said, “Action will be taken against all the accused as per rules.”

As per the local residents, illegal mining goes on unabated on the bed of the Sutlej near Phillaur despite the administration’s crackdown. The local police have registered about five cases under the mining Act during last two months after arresting tractortrolley drivers for transporting sand illegally.

Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had ordered a crackdown on illegal mining, spotting heavy machinery being used on the the Sutlej riverbed in Phillaur and Rahon on March 6.

Six contractors were booked in this matter.

Following this, the CM had directed deputy commissioners (DCS) and SSPS of the districts concerned to crack down on the activity of illegal mining and seize the heavy equipment.