Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ropar, December 26

Even as illegal mining has become a political issue, the Mining Department officials seem to be in no hurry to take action against suspects.

The officials haven’t taken note of a complaint of illegal mining in Surewal village near Nangal even two days after a complaint was filed in this regard.

Charanjit Singh of Anandpur Sahib said he, along with his brother Parminder Singh and sarpanch of Lodhipur village, owned land in Surewal. On Friday, they came to know that some people had been lifting sand from their land. Charanjit claimed when they reached the spot, nearly 50 tractor-trailers and several JCB machines were busy digging sand and their land had been dug up by more than 15 feet.

They tried to stop the digging but fearing for their life, they left the spot and informed the police. The police as well as Mining Department had not taken any action till now, they alleged. Mining Department XEN Sartaj Singh Randhawa and subdivisional officer Satwinder Singh said they did not know about case. Local Mining Department Inspector Harinder Singh said he had received information from the police in this regard but could not visit the spot as he was out of station.

Mining Dept officials informed: Cops

Police post incharge Narinder Singh said he visited the spot and informed the department officials. The land in this case was on the border of Himchal Pradesh and the police would be able to take action only after discussing the issue with department officials, who were yet to arrive, he said.