Sukhbir Badal alleges illegal mining near Beas river in Punjab; mining dept trashes charges

Amritsar, Jun 30 (PTI) S chief Sukhbir Singh Bal on Wednesday alleged that illegal mining was being carried out near Beas river in Punjab, a charge vehemently denied by state mining department.

He also filed a complaint against a state minister and a few Congress legislators at Beas Police Station in this regard, a party statement said.

A spokesman of mining department, however, accused Bal of trying to gain "political mileage" with “unfounded allegations of illegal mining”.

S leer earlier claimed that according to National Green Tribunal, no mining activity should be done within five kilometers of a bridge, but in this case, sand was being mined within a distance of one kilometer.

Similarly, he said, claim of desilting being done at site was wrong as same could not be done in running water.

“Truck drivers who were being illegally charged Rs 16,000 per truck filed a separate complaint against sand mafia. Villagers also filed a complaint, saying panchayat land was being mined by mafia without ir permission,” party statement stated.

Shiromani Akali Dal (S) leer also me a surprise visit to river bank during which he found a few hundred trucks, fork cranes and even a pipeline on floaters on spot, it said.

Talking to reporters, he alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was allowing sand mafia to indulge in daylight robbery of state resources.

“ CM was allowing this loot to please AICC on one hand so that he could retain his chair as well as legislators who were baying for his blood,” he said.

Bal urged CM to tell people why no action was being taken against mining mafia.

“Farmers told me that police come to spot every day but only to collect bribes. Even today, after I visited spot and witnessed illegal mining, I rang up civil and police authorities to take action, but y sent ir officers only after one-and-a-half hours. Even se officers tried to justify illegal activity by saying desilting work was going on at site,” he said.

Meanwhile, Punjab's mining department in Chandigarh said site visited by S chief was a legal one.

“According to directions issued by government, work is being executed by concessionaire of mining block M/s Friends and company. Revenue of Rs 34.4 crore per annum was generated from this mining block,” department spokesman said.

“No illegal mining is being carried out in Amritsar district,” he asserted.

“It is hereby also important to mention that revenue to state from mining was Rs 30-40 crore per annum during previous government, which h now increased by 10 times to Rs 300 crore per annum,” he said.

department ded that de-silting site h been approved according to decision of state government to increase carrying capacity of rivers in Punjab.

“re is a legal de-silting site Wazir Bhullar on Beas river, having a total area of 69.70 hectares and its legal quantity is 13,63,358 metric tonnes. Out of which, quantity extracted till date is 3,11,398 MT,” spokesperson said.

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