DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

In response to stringent directives issued by Punjab Mining & Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal immediately upon assuming office, a coordinated effort to combat illegal mining activities in the state has been launched. A joint task force comprising officers from the mining department and local police executed a large-scale operation in Amritsar district.

Elaborating on the operation, Mining and Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that the mining department has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining, in accordance with the mandate of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann.

The Cabinet Minister said that the operation uncovered an illicit mining site in village Dhingai, Ajnala in district Amritsar, where recent evidence of unauthorized excavation was detected. Goyal disclosed that the team discovered operational machinery at the site, including a poclain excavator, which was promptly documented and seized by the authorities.

The raid also exposed a dubious agreement between two individuals, Harpreet Singh and Jasbir Singh, ostensibly granting permission for soil excavation. The legitimacy of this agreement is currently under investigation.

The Cabinet Minister categorically stated, "Such unauthorized activities will not be tolerated. We are resolute in our commitment to preserving our natural resources and will take decisive action against those who violate the law."

He informed that the police department has been instructed to immediately file an FIR against both the excavators and the landowner. Besides this, all machinery involved in the illegal mining operation has been impounded and placed in police custody.

Goyal urged citizens to report any suspicious mining activities in their vicinity to the authorities, adding that the campaign against illegal excavation continues with renewed vigour.

Notably, the raid was monitored in real-time via body cameras affixed to the officers' uniforms. These cameras transmitted live footage directly to the state headquarters in Chandigarh, enabling government officials to oversee the operation remotely. This innovative surveillance measure ensured transparency and allowed for immediate supervision of the enforcement action from the highest levels of the administration.
(editor@dailyworld.in)