Shahkot resident alleges illegal mining on his land

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 26

Shahkot-based Sarain Singh, a resident of Raipur Gujran village, on Thursday alleged that his land in the village was being forcibly used for illegal mining by a local Congress leader.

Alleging that the digging of earth from his land was happening for the past one month, Singh alleged that despite repeated complaints to the SSP, IG (Police), Chief Minister and the Mining Department, his complaints had fallen on deaf ears.

He alleged that he had brought the issue to the notice of all authorities concerned. While the legal quarry was 3 km away at Cholian village, his land was being illegally used to carry out these activities.

Sarain Singh alleged that the activity was happening at the behest of local Congress leader Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, whose men were digging up his land and using it for illegal works. Sarain Singh further said, “A contractor employed by the leader has installed a kandha at the village, which is digging into my land and is also employing trucks/trolleys passing through my land. The contractor is digging 30 feet deep into the land with the machines – which might also render the area sensitive due to the seepage of groundwater. This could also cause major damage to the neighbouring villages.” DSP, Shahkot, Dilbagh Singh, said, “The said person complained to us about five-six days ago. The person couldn’t make it to the site when I went, so I came back. But later the SHO concerned, along with the Mining Department teams, visited the site and all proper noting was taken. The mining is not being carried on an illegal site. It’s a huge area and the mining conducted in the said village land isn’t illegal. Besides, this man has never been available whenever our teams visited the site.”

Congress leader Hardev Singh Ladi could not be contacted despite repeated calls.

‘Complainant not available’

The said person complained to us about five-six days ago. The person couldn’t make it to the site when I went, so I came back. But later the SHO concerned, along with the Mining Department teams, visited the site and all proper noting was taken. The mining is not being carried on an illegal site. It’s a huge area and the mining conducted in the said village land isn’t illegal. Besides, this man has never been available whenever our teams visited the site. — Dilbagh Singh, DSP, Shahkot