SITE OF BEAS RIVER VISITED BY SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL A LEGAL SITE: MINING DEPARTMENT CLARIFIES

• NOWHERE ILLEGAL MINING IN AMRITSAR

• 10 FOLD INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT’s INCOME AS COMPARE TO PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 30: The Mining Department of Punjab Government on Wednesday clarified that the site visited by Sukhbir Singh Badal is completely a legal site and they were trying to take political mileage with unfounded allegations of illegal mining. A spokesperson of the Mining Department categorically said that as per the directions issued by the Government, the work is being executed by the concessionaire of Mining Block No. 5 i.e M/s. Friends and company.

The Spokesperson further stated that the revenue of Rs. 34.40 crore per annum is generated from Mining Block No. 5 to the State of Punjab and there is no illegal mining is being carried out in District Amritsar. It is hereby also important to mention that the revenue to the state from Mining was Rs. 30-40 crores per annum during the previous Government, which had now increased by 10 times to 300 crores per annum.

          Criticising that these people were trying to give the legal mining political colour just to fulfil their own political interests, the Spokesperson said that this de-silting site had been approved as per decision of Punjab Government to increase the carrying capacity of rivers in the State and the work was sanctioned. He said that there is legal desilting site Wazir Bhullar on River Beas, having total area 69.70 Hectares and its legal concessionaire quantity is 13,63,358MT. Out of which quantity extracted till date is 3,11,398MT.  The Mining Department also made it clear that nowhere in Amritsar illegal mining was going on and the staff of Water Resources Department is looking after mining activities with hardwork and utmost dedication. Every effort is being made to stop the illegal mining. A Web portal has also been developed by the department to look after the mining activities so that no illegal mining takes place, he added.

        The spokesperson further stated that the allegations levelled are not truthful and instead of appreciating the department, this should not be made a political issue.