Govt bans sand mining at night

ED MINING HAS SO FAR REGISTERED 70 FIRS AGAINST 93 PERSONS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL MINING AND 70 VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IMPOUNDED

CHANDIGARH : The Punjab government on Saturday imposed a ban on sand mining from 7.30om to 5am.

Chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who chaired a highlevel meeting to review illegal mining in the state, directed police and the enforcement directorate (mining) to take strict action against those found engaged in mining operations at night.

The CM directed the department to strictly ensure that no mining is undertaken by authorised contractors in riverbeds or other areas between 7.30pm and 5am.

Warning of stringent action against violators, the CM said anyone, including officials and cops, found conniving in illegal mining operations will be dealt with strictly.

Directing the state director general of police and the newly constituted enforcement directorate (mining) to crack down strictly on night mining activity, the CM ordered that there should be no hindrance to the smooth movement of sand and gravel during the night in view of the construction activity going on in the state.

Availability of the material at affordable price should also be ensured, he told the department, directing principal secretary, mining, to coordinate with authorised contractors to bring down the prices of sand and gravel.

During the meeting, water resources minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria apprised the CM that the creation of enforcement directorate for mining had made a positive impact on the ground in curbing illegal sand mining activities. He assured the CM that sand mining operations in the state will be conducted smoothly, and smooth transportation of sand will be ensured.

DGP Dinkar Gupta said all the commissioners of police and SSPs have been directed to take action against the unscrupulous elements involved in illegal sand mining. He said that additional manpower will be deployed to check night sand mining operations.

ADGP-cum-director ED mining RN Dhoke informed the CM that 70 FIRs have been registered against 93 persons involved in illegal sand mining activities and 70 vehicles have been confiscated since the formation of the directorate.