Illegal mining in Aravalis: Gurugram deputy commissioner orders strict vigil

GURUGRAM: The Gurugram deputy commissioner (DC) on Friday directed the district mining officer, police, pollution control board and transport authority (RTA) to keep a vigil on illegal mining in the Aravalis and strictly deal with such activities in the ‘gair mumkin pahar’ (uncultivable hills), as well as the overloading of mining-related transport vehicles.
The move comes more than two weeks after the police booked four people for illegal mining in the Aravalis in violation of a blanket ban imposed by the Supreme Court.
The directions came during the review meeting of the district-level task force committee of the mining department. The four sub-divisional magistrates of the district are now under orders to conduct surprise checks of vehicles involved in the crusher zones and mining activities, along with attending to the complaints against illegal mining.
“Illegal miners will be dealt with strictly, facing immediate action such as the registration of FIRs against them. Police should also ensure that vehicles ferrying crushed stone or gravel on the road have tarpaulin covers, according to the rules. Such vehicles not only pollute the environment but they also cause accidents involving motorists,” Gurgaon DC Nishant Yadav said during the meeting.
According to the district mining officer, there are 80 crusher units registered in two places in the district, Raisina and Naurangpur. Of this, 20 are active in Naurangpur and 15 in Raisina.
In the last three months, the mining department has seized 11 vehicles involved in illegal mining activities in the Gurgaon and Nuh districts. They have also imposed fines worth Rs 25 lakh on them. They have also registered 18 FIRs related to illegal mining.