Close X
Wednesday, November 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

Punjab imposes statewide night curfew, closure of schools & colleges

Punjab imposes statewide night curfew, closure of schools & colleges
With the spike in Covid-19 cases, Punjab on Tuesday imposed statewide night curfew daily from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and ordered closure of all educational institutions till January 15.

Punjab imposes statewide night curfew, closure of schools & colleges

Man sets wife, minor son on fire in Bihar's Supaul district

Man sets wife, minor son on fire in Bihar's Supaul district
The accused, identified as Ashish Kumar, tied his wife Ranjan Devi and son Vaibhav to the bed and set them on fire at his house in Mayurwa locality, which comes under the Triveniganj police station.

Man sets wife, minor son on fire in Bihar's Supaul district

100 students, doctors of medical college in Punjab test positive

100 students, doctors of medical college in Punjab test positive
Nearly 100 students and resident doctors of the Government Medical College in Patiala in Punjab have tested positive for Covid-19, officials said on Tuesday. A retirement party and New Year Eve's party held on the college campus without following appropriate Covid-19 behaviour is blamed for alarming spike in the cases.

100 students, doctors of medical college in Punjab test positive

Omicron cases rise to 1,892 in India, Maha worst-hit

Omicron cases rise to 1,892 in India, Maha worst-hit
With 192 new cases of highly transmissible Covid variant Omicron detected in the last 24 hours, India's Omicron tally on Tuesday rose to 1,892 cases. Maharashtra and Delhi continue to be the worst-hit states with this new variant.

Omicron cases rise to 1,892 in India, Maha worst-hit

Ahead of PM's visit, Badal seeks economic & agricultural package

Ahead of PM's visit, Badal seeks economic & agricultural package
Badal in a statement here listed five major issues on which he said a prime ministerial package would lend credence and respectability to Modi's visit to Punjab on January 5.  The former CM also drew the PM's attention to thousands of Sikh families awaiting justice for the massacre of 1984.

Ahead of PM's visit, Badal seeks economic & agricultural package

Punjab hikes honorarium of 53,000 Anganwadi workers, others

Punjab hikes honorarium of 53,000 Anganwadi workers, others
Addressing a gathering of Anganwadi workers in Morinda town, the Chief Minister declared that from now onwards the monthly emoluments of the Anganwadi workers stand increased from Rs 8,100 to Rs 9,500, mini-Anganwadi workers from Rs 5,300 to Rs 6,300 and helpers from Rs 4,050 to Rs 5,100.

Punjab hikes honorarium of 53,000 Anganwadi workers, others