To expose illegal mining taking place with impunity in different parts of Punjab under Congress leadership, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal today along with his party workers and journalists conducted live ‘raid’ at the mining sites in Mukerian and accused the Congress leaders for their alleged involvement with the sand mafias.
Sukhbir alleged that Congress leaders are hand in gloves with these sand mafias and that is why the state government has turned a blind eye to these illegal activities, saying it has the ‘blessings of the power’.
“Shocking state of mining mafia in Punjab. After Beas, we have visited Mukerian & saw firsthand how mafia has extracted sand up to 200 feet”, Sukhbir said while asking CM Captain Amarinder Singh and Cabinet Minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria to tell people of Punjab whether which law allows extraction of sand up to 200 feet? Officially the limit is 10 feet only.
He further said that he along with SAD workers had two days back exposed illegal mining at Beas and the Mining Secretary justified the same. “I’m waiting to see how the government will justify illegal activity at Mukerian. We aren’t afraid of cases. Congress government can register 10 cases against me but I’ll continue to safeguard the interests of Punjabis”, he added.
Addressing the media Sukhbir said, “The Congress has time and again accused the Akali Dal of inciting the sand mafia in the state. Now the Akali Dal had reached out to Captain Raj to expose illegal mining in the state. Punjab CM boost of having conducted major raids and crackdown on sand mafias, however, its ministers and MLAs are themselves involved in such practices”, he alleged.
He alleged 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 up 100 to 150 feet deep.