The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday lashed at the Congress Government in Punjab for its alleged failure in preventing the menace of illegal mining and maintaining law and order in the state.
The party warned that if state government fails to implement the mining policy in letter and spirit in next few days, the SAD would ask the central government to intervene and save the environment of Punjab.
Addressing a press conference here, SAD MP and senior leader Prem Singh Chandumajra said besides environment, people in the state too are under threat as the menace of illegal mining and lawlessness has prevailed in the state. “All norms and rules for sand mining are being thrown out of the window. For instance, rules say that digging cannot go beyond the 10 feet limit as it could harm the balance of ecology. But you can see 30-40 feet deep ditches at the mining sites across Punjab,” he added.
Chandumajra said, “The same callousness is being shown towards law and order by the state government as the anti-social elements are running amok with impunity” he added.
Giving an ultimatum to the state government for implementing the state mining policy in letter and spirit, Chandumanjra said that if the Congress government fails to suppress all ongoing illegal mining activities across the state in next few days, we will approach the union minister of environment, forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and ask him to intervene in safeguarding the larger interests of the state as well as the people.