Coming down heavily on illegal mining, Punjab Mines and Geology Minister Mr. Harjot Singh Bains, on Thursday, instructed the officials to immediately seal all the crushers of Khera Kalmot area near Nangal city of Rupnagar district. The cabinet minister said that after recieving complaints of crushers involved in illegal mining and damaging mother nature in Khera Kalmot Area, a videography team was sent by the Mining Department and after the investigations, all the crushers of Khera Kalmot belt have been sealed.Mr. Harjot Singh Bains said that during the regimes of previous governments, many complaints were raised against the defaulters and it was said that son-in-law of Former Vidhan Sabha speaker Rana KP was involved in the malpractice but clean chits were been given and till date no stern action was taken.
After issuing the directions of closure of the crushers, the cabinet minister held an important meeting with the mining officials and directed them to keep regular check on legal and illegal mining sites.The minister said that all contractors have been strictly warned to deposit all the pending dues to the mining department immediately and failing which there contracts will be cancelled and alternate process of recovery will begin.“Mining department would also initiate self operated mining sites at Amritsar and Moga to supply sand at fair prices to general public,” Harjot Singh Bains said.Mr. Bains said that the message of CM Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government is loud and clear against illegal mining and it will not be tolerated at any cost at any location across the state. He said that apart from ensuring strict action against persons involved in illegal mining, the tainted officers will also not be spared.