Date | Oct 06, 2017:

IN WHAT villagers termed an eyewash, the flying squad formed by Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra to take action against illegal miners in the district carried out their first raid in Majri block — the most affected area — on Wednesday night and return empty-handed. The local residents of Khijrabaad and Mianpur Jhangar said that they have the proof that illegal mining goes on unabated in the shamlat land (village common land) of their villages.

A team led by Executive Engineer (XEN), Public Health Division -2, Kamal Kishore carried out the first raid after the DC formed teams on Wednesday. Speaking to Chandigarh Newsline, Kishore said they went to inspect some sites in Majri block but they did not find any one doing illegal mining and any vehicle loaded either with sand or gravel.

Uggar Singh, the district mining officer who was also assisting the raiding team, claimed that they used to take action against the illegal miners. He added that they got three FIRs registered in the last 20 days for illegal mining in the area. “Whenever we receive any complaint, we go to check the spot. Sometimes we do not find anyone, but whenever we find, we take appropriate action,” he added.

The residents of Khijrabaad, which is the most affected village in the Majri block, however, alleged that the raids were merely an eyewash and the officials did not go to the places where illegal mining actually takes place. Azghar Ali, whose father Sher Mohammad had lodged several complaints against illegal mining, said that he along with his two friends saw fresh marks of trucks in the shamlat land on Monday, which indicated that illegal mining was going on at the spot. He added that the mining contractors were carrying out their illegal business without any fear.

Jagjeet Singh, another resident of the village, alleged that the officials of mining department were involved and they informed the illegal miners before the raids. “If illegal mining has stopped then why do tippers laden with sand come out of fields and forest areas at night? What business is going on there?” he asked.

The officials said that as per the duty roster, a team led by Harmel Singh, SDO (Water supply), Patiala and Derabassi Block Level Extension Officer (BLEO) Baljeet Singh will carry out checking in Derabssi area.

(Source: http://indianexpress.com/)