Illegal mining continues unabated in Mohali district

Jan 31, 2019, 09:23 IST

MOHALI: Despite tall claims by Mohali administration, the mining mafia is still busy in digging in the district. In a fresh case of illegal mining, Mohali police recently raided illegal mining sites and seized a tractor trolley laden with sand.

The accused was digging and loading sand into the tractor trolley from a river in Mullanpur when police raided the spot. The driver of the vehicle. however, managed to escape from the spot.

Sources said that around five cases of illegal mining have been already registered in the district in first month of the year. Beside this on January 15, drainage department of the Mohali administration had removed an illegal bridge that was constructed over Ghaggar river to ferry sand.

This facts and cases indicate that the administration has failed in curbing illegal mining in the district.

In the fresh incident, Mullanpur police has booked Sulakhan Singh alias Lakhi of Mullanpur, under the Mining Act. He was loading his tractor trolley with sand when the cops raided the site.

According to the cops, they had received a tip off about illegal mining going on in the area after which they conducted a raid and seized the tractor trolley. Apart from that, Mullanpur police had also arrested three persons and seized three tipper trucks on January 20.

Earlier on January 11, the Mohali police had arrested two persons for digging land and loading mud in tippers in Sundran village of Derabassi. Police had also seized two tippers from the spot.

On January 9, the Dera Bassi police had booked a farmer after he allegedly gave his land to illegal miners on rent. The district administration is repeatedly claiming that the illegal mining activities are completely closed in the district, but these incidents are refuting such claims. On the recent incident, Mullanpur station house officer (SHO) ispector Rajesh Asteer said, “The accused was found digging land illegally. We have registered a case of illegal mining and will arrest him soon.”

Courtesy: The Times of India