Himachal CM orders crackdown on mining mafia

Today,Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh,acting on a report sent by Deputy Commissioner Solan,Madan Chauhan,ordered a major crack down against the mining mafia active in the state.

“I have ordered the administration to probe this particularly incident. A coordinated drive will be launched immediately to deal with those involved in unlawful mining. My government will fully support the actions of young IAS officer Yunus,” Virbhadra Singh said.

Madan Chauhan said,“ I sent a report to the Chief Secretary Sudripta Roy listing the sequence of events.”

Speaking from Delhi where he was celebrating Eid with his family,Yunus told The Indian Express,“I needed this kind of support from other agencies including police and forest,but it was not coming. However,I had the full backing of the government.”

In an equally significant development,the Director (Industries) Mohan Chauhan today reached Nalagarh and held a meeting with the mining officer,local SP and revenue officials,including tehsildar,to draw up a strategy to crack down on the mining mafia.

“A committee will be set up under the SDM with officials from all departments including PWD,mining,forest,police and revenue to check all escape routes on state’s borders with Haryana and Punjab as most of the mining and smuggling of sand and gravel were being done along the borders. There are 5000 to 6000 tractors engaged in carrying of sand and gravel,” he said.

The mining staff will undertake immediate inspections of all 30 to 32 stone crushers in the area and make inventory of the stock with them.