The district administration of Shamli has imposed a fine of Rs 1.14 crore on three farmers on charges of illegal sand mining.
The three farmers are alleged to have done excess mining of sand way beyond the permissible limit to earn huge profits.
Additional district magistrate K B Singh said the fine was imposed on Kuldeep Singh of Haryana, Rajeev Kumar of Nangla and Waris Ali of Bidauli Shadan
The district administration had given them the permission to sell 9000 cubic ft sand from their fields which got collected during flooding in the river Yamuna. But they sold much higher quantities of sand .
On reports of illegal mining the district administration conducted a probe and then slapped the fine. “We are in the process of issuing notices to the farmers in this regard,” said Singh, adding that if they fail to.deposit the fine proceedings of recovery will be initiated against them.
Every year during the monsoon season large quantities of sand gets accumulated in the agricultural fields of farmers which are along the banks of the river.
The district administration issues permits to affected farmers to remove and sell a certain volume of sand to compensate for the loss of their crop. At times, taking advantage of the permission farmers do excess mining to earn a lot of money.