Ferozepur sand mining mafia having a free run
Illegal mining scene shifts to other parts of state due to rain, claims former MLA; dept doesn’t deny claim, but pleads staff crunch
FEROZEPUR: With a staff shortage of more than 60% (25 posts of sanctioned 39 are vacant) with the district mining department, illegal sand mining has become rampant in the district. This is even as the Congress government had made the curbing of this grave illegality as one of its major poll planks.
“Every night, scores of trucks and trolleys are found on the majority of the main roads of the district over-loaded with sand, but there is no effort to check mal-practices,” claimed Sukhpal Singh Nannu, former two-time BJP MLA Ferozepur (urban) and state president of BJP Kisan Morcha.
Admitting that the illegality existed, an official claimed, “None of the four assembly constituencies in the district have escaped the plunder of illegal mining. After the change in guard in the state, just the faces of sand mafia have changed.”
Department officials plead to shortage of staff as the reason behind very little being done to stop the menace. They also claim the entire state’s mafia had now turned to Ferozepur with rain in other parts of the state making it difficult for the mafia to mine.
“Of 39 sanctioned posts in the local mining department, only 14 have staff. How can we tackle illegal mining,” said an official with the department, on the condition of anonymity.
“Be it the mining department, the civil authorities or the police, all have bowed down before the ‘politically patronised’ sand mafia. The big fish always go unharmed, with the department taking action against the small fry for the sake of formality,” Nannu claimed, adding
None of the four assembly constituencies in the district have escaped the plunder of illegal mining in the state. SUKHPAL SINGH NANNU, BJP leader We need more time to curb illegal mining. We will auction more quarries to reduce the gap between supply and demand. AMIT DHAKA, mining director
that sometimes equipment was seized from the sites, but it was also released on payment of paltry fines. “With the monsoon upon us, the majority of the riverbed areas of the state, except Ferozepur, cannot be mined. So, mining is rampant at night,” said another official.
When contacted, Ferozepur deputy commissioner Ramvir refuted any charges of illegal mining and claimed that a special drive had been launched.
“Physical verification of each of the 35 approved legal mining sites in district has been done. Those indulging in illegal mining were fined. The licence of one of the firms was cancelled,” the DC claimed.
“Owners of six companies found to be involved in illegal mining fined have been fined ₹60 lakh. More than 20 JCB machines and scores of tractor trolleys have been impounded. Landlords who allowed sand to be illegally mined were also fined. They have also been booked,” he added. Ferozepur SSP Gaurav Garg rubbished any charges of police laxity.
Punjab mining director Amit Dhaka said, “We need more time to check illegal mining. We will auction more quarries to reduce the supply and demand gap. This will act as a major deterrent against illegal mining.”