DW BUREAU / PATIALA District Magistrate Sandeep Hans, at a joint meeting with Senior Superintendent of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar and other civil and police officials of the district, asked them to act as per the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to stop drug trafficking and illegal mining in the district. He said that as per the Mining Act nobody or institution would be allowed to carry out any kind of excavation/transportation without the permission of the Mining Department. He asked the Mining Officer present in the meeting to ensure that there should be no illegal mining activity in the district by adding that if someone approaches for grant of approval for mining, he would be given approval without any delay. He also asked the district police to crack down on illegal mining heavily. Discussing the law and order situation in the district with SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized that the surveillance should be extended to the grass root level to curb drug trafficking in the district so that the police liaisons could function actively to report promptly about any illegal activity in their areas. He also asked the police force to be more vigilant to curb criminal activities in the district. The Deputy Commissioner directed the police and the civil officials to be more strict on the influx of paddy from other states by forming joint teams. He said that even a single vehicle carrying paddy from other state, should not be allowed to enter the district. (editor@dailyworld.in)