HP crusher owners allege harassment by Punjab officials
PATHANKOT/DHARAMSHALA: The owners of stone crushers have sought the Punjab government’s intervention to end the practice of mining contractors imposing illegal tax on the tippers carrying sand and gravel from stone crushers in Himachal Pradesh.
In a press conference held at Pathankot, the president of Stone Crusher Owners Association of Kangra district Ranveer Singh Nikka said that mining mafia of Punjab was imposing illegal tax on a tipper carrying sand and gravel from Himachal.
He said the mining mafia of Punjab was making quick bucks by collecting ‘gunda tax’ and hurting the business of Himachal crusher industry.
“The Punjab government had decided to erect check points in Ropar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur districts to stop the illegally mined material from Himachal,” Nikka said, adding that mining contractors of Punjab had set up these check points on the border areas and were fleecing the Himachal vehicles.
Materials being produced by stone crushers go for sale through Punjab. The owners send their material with all requisite documents and still they were being targeted, he said.
He said that as per rule, mining toll check points cannot be erected on highway.
“However, the mining contractors of Punjab, in connivance with the police, have raised several check points and targeting HP’s vehicles , ” said Nikka. He said that collection was being done from Himachal’s vehicles only.
Pathankot district mining officer Gagan Kumar said all vehicles carrying construction material are checked as a matter of routine without any discrimination.
Earlier, the Punjab and Haryana high court had barred the mining lobby of Punjab from imposing the tax. “Still, the practice is unabated and the Punjab mining department has turned a blind eye to it,” he said.
The association further said that mining was completely banned in Punjab part of Chakki river. “Still, illegal mining was taking place in the Punjab side and several stone crushers have cropped up at Harial, Mirthal, Nangal Boor and Talwara,” said Joginder Mohan Sharma, a member of the association.