The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders on Saturday warned that if state government fails to implement the mining policy in…
Prem Singh Chandumajra (Photo: Twitter)
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders on Saturday warned that if state government fails to implement the mining policy in letter and spirit in next few days, they would ask the Central government to intervene and save the environment of Punjab.
Speaking at a Press conference held at the party headquarters, the SAD Member of Parliament (MP) Prem Singh Chandumajra claimed that the environment and people of Punjab are under a big threat as the menace of illegal mining and lawlessness has prevailed in Punjab.
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“All norms and rules for sand mining are being thrown out of the window. For instance, rules say that digging cannot go beyond the 10 feet limit as it could harm the balance of ecology. One can see 30 to 40 feet deep ditches at the mining sites across Punjab,” he added.
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Speaking about the adverse effects of illegal mining on the environment as well as on the lives of people, the SAD leader said that it has started to take toll on everything from fertile land and bridges to people’s houses.
He said that soil erosion has become a major problem besides collapsing of bridges and cracking of house walls in the areas where the illegal mining activities are rampant.
“Ropar and Mohali districts are the biggest sufferers as the consequences of illegal mining are being faced by them on a large scale with incidents of bridge collapsing and house damaging have been increasing sharply,” he added.
It was unfortunate that the state machinery has terribly failed to contain the menace of illegal mining; rather it has been found indulging in the cover-up exercise as the sand mafia has the patronage of the ruling party, the SAD leader claimed.
Chandumanjra said that if the Congress government fails to suppress all ongoing illegal mining activities across the state in next few days, SAD will approach the Union minister of environment, forest and climate shange, Dr Harsh Vardhan and ask him to intervene in safeguarding the larger interests of the state as well as the people.
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