Finally, Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh himself saw illegal mining taking place in his State. Capt Amarinder, while on his way to Kartarpur in his official chopper on Tuesday, spotted ‘illegal mining’ on the banks of Sutlej in Phillaur and Rahon.
Soon after, a massive crackdown was launched in the Nawanshahr and Jalandhar districts.
A thorough probe was ordered immediately by the Chief Minister, besides directions to seize the equipment which he saw from the air to be engaged in what clearly appeared to be illegal mining in the region.
Acting quickly on the Chief Minister’s orders, the Nawanshahr district and police administration seized 21 Poclain machines, five JCBs along with 30 tippers (trucks) and a tractor trolley from Malikpur village.
Capt Amarinder tweeted pictures of JCB machines along the river, adding that he had ordered a probe and had asked Deputy Commissioner and SSPs concerned to “seize” the equipment. “Responsibility will be fixed,” the tweet said.
Spokesperson said that highly perturbed at the shocking sight, Capt Amarinder immediately asked the helicopter pilot to fly lower and take a sortie around the river banks. With the sortie confirming his suspicions, the Chief Minister wasted no time in ordering an urgent and thorough probe into the matter, added the spokesperson.
The Chief Minister also promptly issued directions to the DCs and SSPs of the concerned districts to crack down on the activity and seize the equipment, said the spokesperson adding that a detailed investigation be carried out to fix responsibility, followed by stern action against those found guilty.
Taking serious note of the activity, which was brazenly taking place despite the firm steps being taken by the state government to check illegal mining in the state, the Chief Minister made it clear that no laxity or complicity in the matter would be tolerated.
Illegal sand mining has been a contentious issue in Punjab, with Capt Amarinder recently ordering setting up of multi-department teams, headed by the Deputy Commissioners, to keep a check. The announcement had come after Punjab local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, in Jalandhar, had hinted at rampant illegal mining in Punjab.
Capt Amarinder also reiterated his earlier directives to the state Director General of Police (DGP) to send a strong message down the ranks to ensure a complete stop to all illegal mining across the state.
He instructed the DGP to expedite the formulation of a comprehensive strategy, in coordination with the Mining Department and the district administrations across the state, to curb the illegal activity.
Capt Amarinder also made it clear that non-compliance or further delay in this regard would not be tolerated.