Hindustan Times: Khizrabad (Mohali): Sunday, 27 July
2014.
Even as the Punjab
government's special investigation team (SIT) continues its search for illegal
mining mafia on the orders of the Punjab and Haryana high court for more than a
year now, plunder of natural resources continues unabated in the Shivalik
foothills and riverbeds in Mohali and Rupnagar districts.
The scenic
landscapes of Khizrabad, Mianpur Changar and Tarapur villages in Mohali have
become a haven for mafia that has even installed stone-crushers in the area.
From here, tipper-trucks loaded with sand and gravel go unchecked right up to
the Rupnagar-Anandpur Sahib highway for different destinations in half an
hour's time.
The marshy
tracks and ruined link roads remain markers of inaction by the local
administration and the police.
"Even
our meetings with ministers and the chief minister have not yielded any result,
except that our fields are now left out (of the plunder)," said Swarn
Singh, a panchayat member of Mianpur Changar. This Mohali village alone has
about 500 acres of the forestry common panchayat land under the category of
forest or riverbed.
Kharar
sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Sukhjitpal Singh had a few months ago prepared
a detailed report on mining activities in the entire 'changar' (forest) area,
highlighting the presence of at least 17 stone-crushers in the area. Action is
still awaited even as the report was forwarded to the state industry department
through the deputy commissioner's office.
Mohali
district general manager, mining, Chaman Lal, when contacted, said he had
joined office only this week and was yet to take stock. "You tell me where
the illegal mining is taking place. I will surely take action," he told
HT.
The forest
department, on the other hand, has no record of such mining. "No crusher
or screening plant exists in the area that is under our jurisdiction in the
district," said district forest officer Tajinder Singh.
.JPG)
.JPG)
