PTC impact: Mohali DC forms SIT to look into illegal sand mining at Punjab CM's city Kharar
Mohali, February 14: Taking cognizance of a news item published on the digital platforms of PTC News exposing illegal sand mining in Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's city Kharar, Deputy Commissioner, Mohali, Isha Kalia has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the issue.
The SIT team, led by the Mining Officer, Mohali, also visited the Tarapur village in Kharar, where illegal sand mining is going on unabated. The DSP, Kharar, also visit the spot.
On February 12, following a tip-off, a PTC team made a surprise check at Tarapur village in the area, where illegal mining was going unabated.
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As soon as the PTC team reached the spot, JCB drivers and stone crushers involved in the illegal activity fled the scene. It was found that land has been dug up to 100 ft by the mining mafia. Sand was being extracted with the help of JCB machines and crushers.
With the Assembly elections in Punjab nearing, sand mining has become a contentious issue in the state. Political leaders are indulging in mudslinging over the issue and blaming each other for causing loss to the state exchequer. On the other hand, the Punjab Government also failed to introduce any mining policy during its last five-year tenure.
Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's nephew, Bhupinder Singh Honey, was on Friday sent to 14-day judicial custody in an illegal sand mining case.
Bhupinder Singh Honey was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Jalandhar on February 3 as part of its money laundering investigation into the alleged sand mining operations in Punjab.
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-PTC News
