A day after the Punjab Cabinet gave nod for theestablishment of the Enforcement Directorate; to check illegal mining inPunjab, the Punjab Government today appointed Additional Director General of Police(ADGP) RN Dhoke as the Punjab’s first Enforcement Director for mining.
During the Cabinet Meeting on Wednesday a spokesperson ofthe Chief Minister’s Office said the Enforcement Director, would keep a check onunauthorised movement of minor minerals within the state and at the interstateborders of Punjab, in conjunction with the officials of the Mining department.
Besides, the ED, mining, will also facilitate prosecutionof those indulging in illegal mining under Mines and Minerals (Development andRegulation) Act, 1957. “Working closelywith the Mining Wing of Water Resources department, the ED will also check thatthose involved in sand and gravel business do not overcharge on the sale priceceiling prescribed in the Mining Policy”, the spokesperson added.
During the cabinet meeting, it was announced that each ofthe 7 mining blocks (number may vary as per government policy) would be headedby an officer not below the rank of a DSP, with 21 Inspectors/Sub Inspectors atthe district level (3 per DSP) and 175 Head Constables/Constables under them.
“This deployment may be altered/modified from time totime, keeping in view the functional requirements of the Enforcement Director.The police personnel in ED would be provided salary, equipment, arms, by thePolice department. Any special equipment, if required, would be provided fromDistrict Mineral Foundation Funds”, the CM Punjab said.
In this endeavour, districts of Mohali, Ropar,Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Nawanshahr, Jalandhar,Ferozepur, Sangrur and Bathinda would be given greater attention to ensureeffective legitimate mining operations, he further added.
Meanwhile, another transfer was ordered by PunjabGovernment today wherein Promod Ban, IPS, who was serving as IGP-cum-DirectorSSG CM Security, has been transferred to IGP, Ropar Range, Ropar.