Promise to check illegal mining, get votes: Villagers

Tribune News Service

Nurpur Bedi (Ropar), April 21

Irked by potholed roads and dusty environment due to illegal mining, residents of several villages in the Nurpur Bedi area have decided to seek promise from the contesting candidates on checking the menace.

Area residents said they would allow political public meetings in their villages only after the contesting candidates assure them of the steps to be taken to stop illegal mining.

Local residents, after holding a meeting at Kahanpur Khui village, said, “For years, rivers and the adjoining area have become a gold mine for the mining mafia who have been digging sand, flouting all rules and regulations. All enforcement agencies have failed to stop it as almost every person involved in illegal mining is patronised by senior politicians.”

Jaswinder Singh of Bhanuha village said due to unregulated and illegal mining, all roads in their area were broken and the residents were forced to breathe in dust emanating from riverbeds due to large-scale mining.

Dinesh Chadha of Barwa village said locals have decided that those coming to their villages would be allowed to hold public meetings only after they assure of addressing their grievances and penalise those who have played havoc with the environment.