Congress to corner BJP on illegal mining issue in Yamunanagar

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, August 28

Illegal mining is likely to dominate the Assembly elections in Yamunanagar district as leaders of the Congress and other opposition parties are preparing to corner the ruling BJP on the issue. They believe that only a few people have reaped the benefits of illegal mining, which has caused a big revenue loss to the government and damage to the environment. Congress leader Satpal Kaushik says that the party will make illegal mining an issue in the Assembly elections.

As per the records of the Mines and Geology Department, there are 32 legal mining quarries in Yamunanagar district, but most of these have been non-functional for a long time for various reasons. Of the 32 quarries, the operations of 13 have been terminated due to pending dues.

The Mines Department has taken action against illegal mining and transportation of mined minerals from time to time. It got 54 FIRs registered from January to December in 2018, 40 in 2019, 26 in 2020, 39 in 2021, 52 in 2022, 39 in 2023 and 14 in 2024 up to August 27. However, local people say that this action was just an eyewash.

As per the department records, there are 258 screening plants and 176 stone crushers in Yamunanagar district. It is alleged that though most of the mining quarries in the district have closed, all stone crushers and screening plants are still functional.

Kaushik says that when most of the mining quarries have been non-functional for a long time, where is the mined mineral coming from? “Under the guise of illegal mining, a huge theft of mined mineral, government revenue and tax evasion have taken place, which needs to be investigated by the CBI or other probe agency,” he adds.

Environmentalist Dr SL Saini, says that illegal mining has caused huge damage to the flora and fauna in several areas of the district. “Sincere remedial steps should be taken to save the flora and fauna from the clutches of such influential anti-social elements,” he adds.

Quarries closed but stone crushers working

• Most quarries in district closed but stone crushers, screening plants still functional
• Environmentalist SL Saini says illegal mining has caused huge damage to the flora and fauna in the district