Toexpose illegal mining taking place with impunity in different parts of Punjabunder Congress leadership, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badaltoday along with his party workers and journalists conducted live ‘raid’ at themining sites in Mukerian and accused the Congress leaders for their allegedinvolvement with the sand mafias.
Sukhbiralleged that Congress leaders are hand in gloves with these sand mafias andthat is why the state government has turned a blind eye to these illegalactivities, saying it has the ‘blessings of the power’.
“Shockingstate of mining mafia in Punjab. After Beas, we have visited Mukerian & sawfirsthand how mafia has extracted sand up to 200 feet”, Sukhbir said whileasking CM Captain Amarinder Singh and Cabinet Minister Sukhbinder SinghSarkaria to tell people of Punjab whether which law allows extraction of sandup to 200 feet? Officially the limit is 10 feet only.
Hefurther said that he along with SAD workers had two days back exposed illegalmining at Beas and the Mining Secretary justified the same. “I’m waiting to seehow the government will justify illegal activity at Mukerian. We aren’t afraidof cases. Congress government can register 10 cases against me but I’llcontinue to safeguard the interests of Punjabis”, he added.
Addressingthe media Sukhbir said, “The Congress has time and again accused the Akali Dalof inciting the sand mafia in the state. Now the Akali Dal had reached out toCaptain Raj to expose illegal mining in the state. Punjab CM boost of havingconducted major raids and crackdown on sand mafias, however, its ministers andMLAs are themselves involved in such practices”, he alleged.
Healleged that the arable land in and around the areas along the River Beas,Mukerian and adjoining villages had been destroyed by the active sand mafia,and thousands of acres of land in more than five dozen villages had been dug up100 to 150 feet deep.