Army tells Pb to take NOC for mining by India-Pak border

Chandigarh: The Indian Army has directed the Punjab government to take a no-objection certificate (NOC) from it for any kind of mining activities along the India-Pakistan border in the future. According to the Army, any mining activity in the hinterland beyond a depth of 5km from the international border anywhere in Punjab, within a radius of 500 metres from any military establishment will only be permitted after an NOC is obtained by the state government from the local military authority, of the rank of a brigadier. The Army has asked Punjab to incorporate this condition into its mining policy.
The letter was sent to Krishan Kumar, Punjab principal secretary (department of water resources, mining and geology), in connection with the pending matter before the Punjab and Haryana high court on illegal mining in Punjab.
As per the letter dated October 19, from the Western Command, any mining activity within the area bound by the international boundary between India and Pakistan in Punjab (BP-1 to BP-274) on the western side and up to a depth of the line of defence works of the Army and 500 metres beyond on the Eastern side should not be permitted.