Illegal Mining Prevention Vigilance Unit (IMPVU) Chief Executive Officer DIG Sanjay Kumar Gunjyal conducted a drive against illegal mining activities in riverbed areas of Dakrani and Kalsi under Vikasnagar block in Dehradun on Sunday and seized vehicles carrying minerals worth of around Rs 2.5 crores.
Police have also arrested alleged illegal mining mafia Arun Kumar Sharma from the spot and has registered an FIR under Mining Act against illegal mining operators in the local police station.
DIG Gunjyal said that IMPVU will continue their drive against illegal mining activities in the riverbeds areas of the State and police will lodge an FIR against illegal mining operators under appropriate sections of IPC, Forest Act and Mining Act in the local police if they are caught indulging in lifting minerals illegally from restricted areas of the State. Gunjyal said that he led a police team comprised of inspector, sub-insepctors and constables and had recently launched several drives against illegal mining activities in varoius riverbeds areas of Kuman division in the last 15 days.
The team had succeeded in seizing vehicles and illegal minerals amounting to crores of rupees from the riverbeds areas and FIR was lodged agaisnt illegal mining operators. "On Sunday, we conducted raids in the riverbed areas of Dakrani and Kalsi and seized illegally excavated minerals amouting to around Rs 2.50 crores. Police has registered an FIR under mining Act against illegal mining operators in the local police station,” DIG added.
It may be mentioned here that in view of increasing illegal mining activities, the State Police has recently formed a Illegal Mining Prevention Vigilance Unit comprised of DIG, inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables and Unit head was directed to take steps for stopping illegal mining activities from the riverbeds areas of the State.