Mining mafia flourishing in Indora: Cong spokesperson

Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) spokesperson Manmohan Katoch has alleged that the Indora area, situated on the HP-Punjab border, has become a hub of illegal mining with the connivance of the state Mining Department.

Katoch also raised questions over the government’s commitment towards curbing illegal mining in the state.

In a press release issued here yesterday, Katoch alleged that the department was behind the flourishing mining mafia in the area. He demanding a high-level probe into assets of some department officials.

“Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has ordered crackdown on the illegal practice, but officials here are ignoring his instructions. On the contrary, the Nurpur district police are working against illegal mining as per the government’s commitment,” he said.

The Congress spokesperson said it was surprising that despite a blanket ban on mining activities across the state till September 15, the practice allegedly continued right under the nose of officials.

Katoch said he would meet the Chief Minister to demand investigation into properties amassed by officials of the department in the state.

He alleged that a strong lobby of the mining mafia was active in the area from where multi-axle vehicles loaded with sand and gravel extracted from local rivulets were sent to other states without ‘X’ forms even during the ban period.

Nurpur Mining Officer Suresh Kumar said stone crushers in the Indora subdivision had been established following the government’s approval and after fulfilling requisite formalities by the owners. Denying the involvement of the department officials in the illegal mining, he said as and when he had got a complaint immediate action was taken against the offenders, including imposition of fine and seizure of machinery used in illegal mining.