Punjab Mines and Geology Minister Harjot Singh Bains, today shot a letter to all the Deputy commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police to completely shun the practice of illegal mining in the state.In the letter to deputy commissioners, the cabinet minister categorically mentioned, "As the Punjab government is against illegal mining, it has come to my notice that illegal mining is going on in many districts of the state. Therefore, you are directed to get the information from the mining officer of your district and to demarcate the allotted quarries by putting up flag so that it may be clear that mining is to be done from these sites only."
In furtherance, SSPs have been asked that it has been written to the Deputy Commissioners for flagging of allotted quarries in each district so that illegal mining can be stopped immediately. "But even then, if a case of illegal mining comes to light, it will be the sole responsibility of the SSP concerned. All the deputy commissioners and SSPs were asked for the strict compliance of the instructions.Notably, after assuming the charge while chairing the meeting of mining department, the cabinet minister instructed the officials to mark all the legal sites across the state to check the illegal mining, saying that by plugging illegal mining, there will be a major boost in the state’s exchequer.