Close X
Friday, September 20, 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

Delhi: Air quality continues to be in 'very poor' category

Delhi: Air quality continues to be in 'very poor' category
Air quality across Delhi continues to be in the 'very poor' category on Monday as the overall AQI of the city reached 323, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). In the national capital, the Anand Vihar station recorded the air in the 'very poor' category with PM 2.5 at 342 and PM 10 at 301, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).  

Delhi: Air quality continues to be in 'very poor' category

Amazon laying off hundreds in Alexa division, India team impacted

Amazon laying off hundreds in Alexa division, India team impacted
Amazon is laying off “several hundred employees” from its Alexa devision, including in India, amid a renewed focus on artificial intelligence (AI), the media reported on Friday. In a memo sent to employees and seen by GeekWire, Daniel Rausch, vice president of Alexa and Fire TV team, said that the company is eliminating “several hundred roles”.  

Amazon laying off hundreds in Alexa division, India team impacted

Historian B N Goswamy passes away

Historian B N Goswamy passes away
Known for his path-breaking work on Pahari paintings, internationally-acclaimed art historian and an authority on miniature painting, Chandigarh-based Brijinder Nath Goswamy, passed away on Friday following prolonged ill health. Recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, 90-year-old Goswamy, fondly called BNG in art circles had authored more than 26 books.

Historian B N Goswamy passes away

Attack on civilians in Gaza is genocidal: Congress

Attack on civilians in Gaza is genocidal: Congress
“Israel’s actions following Hamas’ condemnable attack on their citizens are genocidal,” Congress General Secretary (communication) Jairam Ramesh said, in a statement. Ramesh said that the targeting of civilians, women and children, hospitals and shelters violate the values of humanity and every international norm of war. 

Attack on civilians in Gaza is genocidal: Congress

Sukhbir Badal sends legal notice to Punjab CM

Sukhbir Badal sends legal notice to Punjab CM
In the legal notice, Badal said the Chief Minister had deliberately made an "outlandish" statement on November 1 at a so-called one-man debate held in Punjab Agriculture University in Ludhiana that the Badal family had compromised Punjab’s river water interests for personal gains.

Sukhbir Badal sends legal notice to Punjab CM

NGT directs stringent measures to improve AQI in Delhi-NCR

NGT directs stringent measures to improve AQI in Delhi-NCR
Despite previous interventions, the tribunal noted a lack of "visible improvement" in the capital's air quality and has mandated the authorities concerned to submit a renewed action taken report by November 20.  

NGT directs stringent measures to improve AQI in Delhi-NCR