Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
India

AAP minister involved in illegal mining in Punjab: Akali Dal

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 Dec, 2023 04:11 PM
  • AAP minister involved in illegal mining in Punjab: Akali Dal

Chandigarh, Dec 11 (IANS) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Majithia on Monday demanded a high court monitored inquiry or a CBI probe into the multi-hundred crore illegal mining allegedly being done in Ropar by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Harjot Bains in the name of desilting.

In a statement here, the SAD leader said despite the fact that desilting had been banned in the 2023 mining policy of the AAP government; massive desilting works were being carried out with heavy machinery to mine sand in Chandpura village in Anandpur Sahib tehsil currently.

"Even protests from villagers have not had any effect on either the mining department or the district police because the miners enjoy government patronage."

Asserting that large-scale illegal mining was being carried out in other parts of Ropar district by the minister and his associates, Majithia said simultaneously illegal mining was being converted into legal mining by imposing a fee of Rs 6 per cubic feet.

He said by doing this the AAP government was legalising sand which was being illegally quarried in areas where legal quarries had not been sanctioned.

"Such acts have made Punjab the virtual virgin island for illegal smugglers with no questions being asked whether material is coming from the state or outside," he added.

Asserting that this was sheer loot of the state exchequer, Majithia said "the entire AAP party from top to bottom is responsible for this as money procured from illegal mining is being used to fill the coffers of party leaders as well as bankroll the election campaign of the party in other states".

He said only an independent probe could establish the money trail from Punjab to Delhi and bring the guilty to book.

MORE India ARTICLES

Punjab's agriculture expected to grow by 3.70 per cent: Minister

Punjab's agriculture expected to grow by 3.70 per cent: Minister
The livestock sector, he said, with rapid growth is becoming a major contributor to the growth of the agriculture and allied sector. "The livestock sector is likely to grow by 4.18 per cent in 2022-23," Cheema said, while adding the livestock sector's share in total Gross State Value Added (GSVA) of Punjab was 11.1 per cent during 2022-23.

Punjab's agriculture expected to grow by 3.70 per cent: Minister

PM to flag off Delhi-Jaipur Vande Bharat train on April 12

PM to flag off Delhi-Jaipur Vande Bharat train on April 12
The regular service of this Vande Bharat Express will start from April 13, and it will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantonment, with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon. The launch of the express train comes just eight months before the state goes for assembly polls.

PM to flag off Delhi-Jaipur Vande Bharat train on April 12

India: Covid fresh cases cross 5k-mark

India: Covid fresh cases cross 5k-mark
The Health Ministry said that till now 220.66 crore Total Vaccine doses (95.21 cr Second Dose and 22.87 cr Precaution Dose) have been administered under the nationwide vaccination drive. 1,993 doses were administered in the last 24 hours.

India: Covid fresh cases cross 5k-mark

Bihar: Liquor mafia holds police, excise team hostage, 14 arrested

Bihar: Liquor mafia holds police, excise team hostage, 14 arrested
On Wednesday night, a team of district police and excise department went to Dharauli Dhangar Toli village and arrested a woman, Gayatri Devi, along with four liters of country-made liquor. The sleuths have taken Gayatri in police van to go to the police station. 

Bihar: Liquor mafia holds police, excise team hostage, 14 arrested

132-kg cake to kick-start Ambedkar's birthday celebrations in Mumbai

132-kg cake to kick-start Ambedkar's birthday celebrations in Mumbai
Mumbai's famed Merwans Confectioners will bake the 10 feet X 5 feet and 4-inch tall popular 'Lemon Crackle' cake, with dollops of cream and a special design in icing which will be cut to the accompaniment of a fireworks display and a shower of flowers from the air, said Nikhil Raut, who has designed the cake.

132-kg cake to kick-start Ambedkar's birthday celebrations in Mumbai

Netherlands firm keen to invest in Punjab's clean energy

Netherlands firm keen to invest in Punjab's clean energy
Asia's largest paddy straw and other agro-residue based CBG project of the total capacity of 33.23 ton CBG daily has been operationalised in Sangrur district and 42 additional CBG plants have been allotted by Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA).

Netherlands firm keen to invest in Punjab's clean energy