Deputy Commissioner Sushil Sarwan directed officials to take strict steps to completely curb illegal mining in the district. He emphasized that illegal mining would not be tolerated in the district under any circumstances. The Deputy Commissioner presided over the meeting of the District Level Task Force Committee (Mining) held in his office at the Mini Secretariat on Friday.
The Deputy Commissioner directed that officers should ensure mining activities are carried out at the allotted mining sites as per the guidelines issued by the government, and mining should not exceed the prescribed depth. At present, there are 6 mining blocks in the district, including one in Kalka sub-division and 5 in Panchkula sub-division. He directed that the villages of Burjakotiya, Jabarot, Diwanwala, Basaula, Paploha, Nanakpur, Charaniya, and Mahtab Majra of Kalka sub-division, where there is a higher possibility of illegal mining, should be raided by the joint team of the mining and police department under the leadership of the SDM. If anyone is found involved in illegal mining, strict action should be taken against them. He also directed officials to ensure that there is no illegal encroachment on government land.
The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the action taken on the decisions made in the last meeting and directed the District Mining Officer to issue maximum challans and register FIRs against those involved in illegal mining.
An amount of Rs 1 crore, 87 lakh 27 thousand 690 was recovered as a fine, and 101 FIRs were registered.
District Mining Officer Gurjit Singh said that in January 2024, 34 vehicles involved in illegal mining were seized, from which an amount of Rs 28 lakh 78 thousand 600 was recovered as a fine. During this period, 15 FIRs were also registered against illegal miners.
He said that from April 1, 2023, to January 2024, a total of 225 vehicles involved in illegal mining were seized, from which an amount of Rs 1 crore, 87 lakh 27 thousand 690 was recovered as a fine. During this period, 101 FIRs were also registered against illegal miners. The District Mining Officer said that the department’s action against illegal mining is continuing. On this occasion, SDM Kalka Nisha Yadav, ACP Rajneesh Kumar, DDPO Vishal Parashar, District Mining Officer Gurjeet Singh, DFO Morni BS Raghav, Irrigation and Water Resources Department Executive Engineer Anurag Goyal, SDO Sukhvindra, Public Works Department SDO Anil Kamboj, and others, officers, and employees were present.