Chandigarh, April 3:
Following the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to provide sand to the residents of the state at reasonable prices and to take strict action against illegal mining, continuous action is being taken by the mining department. In a major crackdown, the mining department seized one Poclain machine and four Tippers near the Swan River in the Rupnagar district.
Divulging the details here today, Mining Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that acting on tip-off, the Mining Department swung into the action and seized a Poklen machine and five tippers involved in illegal mining on the right side of the Swan river. A tipper driver fled with one tipper whose number was noted and operations have been intensified to nab him while a Poclain machine and four tippers have been seized.
Meet Hayer said that the State Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has adopted zero tolerance policy against any kind of mafia and will not tolerate any illegal activities. The department has provided affordable sand to the common people from 32 public sites at the rate of Rs.5.50 per square feet, added Meet Hayer. So far, the common people have bought 5.05 lakh metric tonnes of reasonable sand, which has also provided employment to people. Along with this, there is a target to increase the number of public sites to 50 shortly. Similarly, tendering of commercial sands are also going on from where sand will be available at Rs 5.50 per square feet.
