Zero tolerance against illegal mining-Madan Mohan Mittal

Chandigarh, October 17, 2013: Madan Mohan Mittal, Industries and Commerce Minister, Punjab has said that the services of Dharampal Bhagat, General Manager cum Mining Officer of Pathankot district, has placed under suspension on the charge of negligence in duty and categorically said that ‘zero tolerance’ would be adopted against illegal mining in the state and such miners would be dealt sternly.
The Minister said that Punjab Government was contemplating to make a Special Task Force to keep a check on illegal mining. He said that the STF would visit illegal mining sites, if any, along with the General Manager cum Mining Officers of respective districts with a view to check on illegal mining. He said that more vehicles were being provided to field officers to minutely check the mining activities.
Presiding over a high level meeting of General Managers cum Mining Officers of all districts, the Minister accompanied by N.K. Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Industries, asked the officers to take strict action against practices of illegal mining. He said that only legal operation of the quarries should remain in process and illegal miners should be booked under under Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 along with section 379 of the Indian Penal Code.
Mittal directed to take immediate effective measures to check illegal mining and stabilise the prices of sand and gravel in Punjab. He has called upon the officers to initiate a crusade against unlawful mining in the state. Mittal asked them to ensure smooth and hassle free sand mining and availability of sand and gravel in Punjab. The Minister said that no crusher in the State of Punjab could run without getting registered under the mining policy.
He said that the crusher owners who failed to produce the valid documents regarding the source of material lying with them would be dealt under the provisions contained in section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 and rule 76 of the Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013 along with booked under section 379 of IPC. The Minister also appealed the people of Punjab to approach Mining Officers, if having any information regarding illegal mining in the state.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included N.K. Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Industries, Karan Avtar Singh, Principal Secretary Industries, Vikas Partap, Director cum Secretary Industries and senior officers of Industries Department.  www.cityairnews.com