The State Government has reiterated its pledge to stop illegal mining of any kind taking place in different parts of the State. Mines Secretary Sunil Kumar Barnwal on the instructions of Chief Minister Raghubar Das held a high level meeting on this with district officials of Dumka on Sunday.
“As per the instructions of the Chief Minister all those who are involved in illegal mining operations would have to face the music. Instructions have been given to seize machines pressed into sand excavation activities. We are getting information that illegal sand trade is taking place through West Bengal and also by hording the item in bulk. Now it is for every District Commissioner (DC) to ensure action against all such people in their respective areas,” said the Secretary after the meeting.
He also instructed the officials to stop unauthorised crushers from operating and directed Superintendents of Police (SPs) to conduct raids in case there is any information.
“Strict adherence of the Forest Acts should take place where forest land is involved. Common citizen can also inform about any such illegal activity by calling on ‘100’ or directly to the Chief Minister cell on ‘181,” added Barnwal.
An official present in the meeting said that the Secretary has directed the DCs to form ‘raid teams’ to conduct the operation. “His main focus was on sand mining and other illegal mining taking place in the area. Now the teams are to be formed for conducting surprise checks,” said a District Mining Officer.
The Secretary visited Dumka after several complaints about illegal mining especially of sand were made from the Santhal Pargana area and came into the knowledge of the Chief Minister.
An official in the Mines Directorate said that such meetings would also take place in other divisions of the State in the days to come and local administration would be made accountable for illegal mining of any kind taking place.