Contractor gets notice for mining outside his area

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, December 22

A mining contractor has allegedly carried out illegal mining over an area of 9.3 hectares outside his contract area in Gumthala village of Yamunanagar district. In the process, he disposed of 2,32,500 metric tonnes of sand.

This fact came to light after a team of the Mines and Geology Department, Haryana, comprising mining officer, Yamunanagar, and surveyors of the department had on December 4 and 5 demarcated the area excavated by the contractor outside his contract area.

The mining department took the step of demarcation as in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) for the year ending March 31, 2018, it was observed that the contractor had been undertaking mining operations in the adjoining area of his contract area.

On the basis of the report prepared by the team after demarcation, Amitabh Singh Dhillon, Director General of the Mines and Geology Department, ordered the suspension of the mining operation and dispatch of mineral from the concession area in Gumthala village North Block/Yamunanagar B-16 of Yamunanagar district on December 20.

The contractor was also served show-cause notice by the Director General in this connection.

As per the show-cause notice, he has been directed to submit his reply within 15 days, failing which action for termination of mining contract with forfeiture of full amount of security on account will be initiated without giving further notice.

The contractor had got a mining contract over 44.62 hectares in Gumthala for extraction of sand for seven years.

After obtaining environmental clearance from the competent authority and other required permissions, he commenced mining operation in the area on December 26, 2016.

But he allegedly carried out illegal mining over 9.3 hectares outside the contract area.