The Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday demanded that an expert survey should be conducted in the areas affected by the alleged illegal mining in Punjab to take preventive measures to anticipate natural disasters as a result of “blind illegal mining”.
“In Punjab’s illegal mining affected areas, especially in Rupnagar district, ground water is going deeper. Due to which, hundreds of farmers are suffering as their irrigation tube-wells have failed. The course of flowing water has also changed,” claimed AAP
leader and advocate Dinesh Chadha.
“But sadly, instead of finding a solution in legislative Assembly for the danger posed by these changes, the State Government is busy in suppressing the voice of public,” he alleged.
Chadha said that instead of taking preventing measures, State Government is presently “patronising” the blind illegal mining in these areas.
“If this very serious issue is not taken care of, these areas might be headed towards a terrible ecological disaster,” he said.
He stressed that it was the need of the time that State Government’s Geology Department and Central Government’s Environment and Forest Department should conduct a survey in these areas to anticipate natural disasters and make a plan to prevent destruction of natural resources.
“If the Government does not want to listen to this issue from the MlAs of the opposition party in the State Assembly, it can collect these reports through MlAs of the ruling party or independent sources...But, ignoring these changes in geography of illegal mining affected areas is not in interest of the people of Punjab in any way,” he said.