Crack down on illegal mining: DGP to top cops

To crack down on the illegal mining in a big way across the State, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP), Suresh Arora, on Monday issued strict instructions to the top officials in all districts to put an immediate stop to any such activity.

The State police chief held a video conference with all the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ranges, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zones and Commissioners of Police and directed them to ensure that there is no laxity in checking the menace of illegal mining.

The SSPs were advised to coordinate closely with their respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and also explore the possibility of using District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds for installation of CCTV cameras at the ‘nakas’ set up for checking illegal mining and associated offences.

DGP also directed the SSPs to conduct regular meetings with contractors, who have secured the mining contracts legally, to facilitate quick redressal of their grievances.

Such contractors should not be unnecessarily harassed and their practical difficulties must be understood, the DGP told the district police chiefs.

The video conference followed a meeting convened by the DGP with Mining Secretary Kumar Rahul to formulate a joint strategy to curb illegal mining in the State. Rahul was assured full cooperation and assistance by the police in this regard, said the police spokesperson.

These initiatives come in the wake of the Cabinet decision to check all illegal mining activity in the State through all possible measures, in close coordination with the police. Following this, the DGP had earlier issued detailed instructions to all SSPs and CPs, which he further reiterated through Monday’s video conference. PNS n Chandigarh

To crack down on the illegal mining in a big way across the State, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP), Suresh Arora, on Monday issued strict instructions to the top officials in all districts to put an immediate stop to any such activity.

The State police chief held a video conference with all the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Ranges, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zones and Commissioners of Police and directed them to ensure that there is no laxity in checking the menace of illegal mining.

The SSPs were advised to coordinate closely with their respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and also explore the possibility of using District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds for installation of CCTV cameras at the ‘nakas’ set up for checking illegal mining and associated offences.

DGP also directed the SSPs to conduct regular meetings with contractors, who have secured the mining contracts legally, to facilitate quick redressal of their grievances.

Such contractors should not be unnecessarily harassed and their practical difficulties must be understood, the DGP told the district police chiefs.

The video conference followed a meeting convened by the DGP with Mining Secretary Kumar Rahul to formulate a joint strategy to curb illegal mining in the State. Rahul was assured full cooperation and assistance by the police in this regard, said the police spokesperson.

These initiatives come in the wake of the Cabinet decision to check all illegal mining activity in the State through all possible measures, in close coordination with the police. Following this, the DGP had earlier issued detailed instructions to all SSPs and CPs, which he further reiterated through Monday’s video conference.