Illegal sand mining continues unabated in Yamunanagar
AMBALA : With five cases being reported in as many days in the district, illegal mining has become a cause of concern in Yamunanagar. In 2018, the district saw as many as 48 cases.
District mining officer Gurjeet Singh stated that in the last two months alone, Yamunanagar saw 16 cases—eight cases each in January and February.
LOCAL ALLEGE POLITICAL BACKING
Locals in the area allege that illegal mining continues unabated because it is being carried out at the behest of politicians. In one of the cases, former Haryana minister and Congress leader Nirmal Singh’s son Uday Vir alias Sonu and nephew Sultan Singh were also booked for under Section 21.4(1) of the mines and minerals Act, 1957, and Section 379 (theft) of the IPC at Khizrabad police station. “The mining department also shows laxity in taking steps against the mafia that enjoys political backing,” said a local, pleading anonymity.
Inspector Om Dutt Sharma of the mines and geology department, Yamunanagar, said he had visited Tajewala village in the district on February 20 and found about half a dozen crusher functioning without a proper name board or licence. “After that we lodged FIRS in the matter,” he said.
On being asked about reasons behind illegal mining, the district mining officer Singh said that most of the mining zones are given on lease but some contractors are trying to extract gravel from beyond the limit area.
He further said all efforts are being made to illegal mining activities.