Haryana: Three cases of illegal mining registered in Yamunanagar

YAMUNANAGAR: The Yamunanagar Police on Thursday booked owners of one dumper-truck and two tractor-trolleys, for failing to deposit compensatory amounts imposed, as per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, for causing damage to the environment by the commission of illegal mining activities.
The officials of the Haryana mines and geology department (MGD), Haryana lodged three complaints with the police in this regard.
Acting on these complaints, three cases have been registered against unknown persons under Section 379 (punishment for theft) and 21 (4) (A) of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation of Development) Act at Jagadhri Sadar police station on Thursday.
In the first case, mining officer Krishan Kumar stated to the police that a special enforcement team (SET) of the MGD formed to check and stop illegal mining had confiscated a dumper (HR58B1772) on December 24, 2019.
Similarly, in two separate complaints, mining inspector Om Dutt Sharma complained that a tractor-trolley (HR02AF9729) was confiscated on June 7, 2020, and another (HR02AU1748) on June 7, 2020.
“Against the norms of NGT, these three vehicles were caught by Jagadhri area mining staff. These vehicles were involved in illegal mineral (core-sand) transport without any valid bill/additional mineral transport permit. As per the NGT orders dated April 23, 2019, and February 19, 2020, the owners of the confiscated vehicles are required to deposit compensation amount for causing environmental damage by the commission of illegal mining activities, penalty, royalty, and mineral value to the Mines and Geology Department for getting their vehicles released”, stated the mining officers in their complaints.
“The owners of these three vehicles did not deposit the required dues and the same are pending for recovery and deposit in the state treasury through e-challan. Accordingly, as per the orders of the NGT, the process to auction these vehicles have also started to recover the amount of environment compensation and other fines”, further stated the complainants.
Last month on August 24, similar cases were registered against owners of two dumper trucks at Buria police station in Yamunanagar.