Illegal sand mining a bane of Amarinder

Chandigarh: Controlling the sand mafia was one of the main promises made by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh before the Assembly elections in 2017. However, the recent incidents of assault on forest officials and an AAP MLA by the mining mafia has started a debate on the government’s commitment to curb the illegal activities.

In an earlier blow to the Congress government, Cabinet minister Rana Gurjit Singh had to resign in January after his name cropped up in a mining controversy.

Captain Amarinder Singh. on assuming office,  had told officials not to succumb to political interference and catch the big offenders involved in illegal mining. He had also announced the government’s decision to depute one “guardian of governance (rakha)” at each mining site as a step towards curbing illegal mining.

However, the recent violent incidents show that nothing much has changed on the ground as far as illegal sand mining is concerned.

The assault on AAP’s Ropar MLA Amarjit Singh Sandoa, allegedly by the sand mafia, on June 21 has given fresh ammunition to the Opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to attack the Congress government.

The Akalis have warned that  if the state government fails to implement the mining policy in letter and spirit in the next few days, it would ask the Central government to intervene and save the state’s environment.

Incidentally, when the Akalis were in power their government was also accused of promoting sand cartels and creating a false shortage of sand. SAD MP and senior leader Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra said that the environment and people of Punjab are under a big threat due to illegal mining.

Earlier this week, Captain Amarinder Singh gave an in-principle approval to continuing with progressive bidding for grant of mining contracts, while directing the mining department to explore the possibility of setting up a mining corporation, as suggested by local government minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Since the establishment of a mining corporation, on the lines of Telangana as suggested by Navjot Singh Sidhu, may take time, the chief minister said the state government would continue to follow the transparent progressive bidding policy, under which  the advance profit given is added in the reserve price of the mines at the time of their auction.

The chief minister has also sought a detailed report from Rupnagar deputy commissioner on the assault on Mr Sandoa. The AAP MLA was targeted a few days after an assault on block forest range officer Devinder Singh, who was injured critically,  and guard Karnail Singh near Seonk village in Kharar on the periphery of Chandigarh.