Punjab: HC bans all mining activities in Pathankot, Gurdaspur and nearby border areas
Chandigarh, August 29: Citing security threats prompted by illegal mining on riverbeds in the border area, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday completely banned all types of mining activities in Pathankot, Gurdaspur and nearby border areas.
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Reacting to a reply filed by the Punjab Government, the High Court observed, “Not a single word on how the government is planning to stop illegal mining on the riverbeds. What is keeping the officers of Punjab so busy that they are not taking any action on such a serious issue? What's the use of filing so many fancy affidavits when nothing is being done on the ground? The Punjab Government is so engrossed that the court has to intervene and make it aware of the fact that Punjab is a part of the country and illegal mining is a threat to the country.”
Meanwhile, the counsel for the Punjab Government said a meeting was being held and the Chief Secretary of Punjab visited the site of illegal mining. The High Court has directed the Punjab Government's lawyer to address the concerns of the BSF and the Army.
Earlier, in a reply filed in the High Court, the BSF and the Army informed the court that infiltration, smuggling of weapons, drugs, might increase manifold if no remedial measured were taken to check illegal mining activities. The BSF said illegal mining in these areas was almost out of control. Such activities were putting national security at stake and yet the Punjab Government "appeared to be non-serious about it".
Reportedly, due to illegal mining, a railway bridge in Pathankot connecting Punjab and Himachal also suffered damage, which was considered as one of the most important strategic routes for the Army.
The HC, expressing concern over the damaged bridge, asked the Punjab Government, “Is mining so important that we can let it mess with national security?"
Directing the Punjab Government to report their initiatives to stop illegal mining in the border areas in the next hearing, the HC ordered a complete ban on all types of mining in Pathankot, Gurdaspur and other border areas.
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-PTC News
