MINING DEPT UNEARTH ILLEGAL MINING AT TWO PLACES; FIRs REGISTERED: BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL

MINING DEPT UNEARTH ILLEGAL MINING AT TWO PLACES; FIRs REGISTERED: BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL

ILLEGAL SAND MINING UNEARTHED AT KOT SIDHU VILLAGE IN AMRITSAR; MACHINERY AND TIPPERS IDENTIFIED

UNNUMBERED SAND-LOADED TIPPER INTERCEPTED AT SIDHWAN BET IN LUDHIANA

SO FAR, 247 FIRs, 598 CHALLANS REGISTERED; AROUND RS.8-CR PENALTY IMPOSED

Chandigarh/Amritsar/Ludhiana, October 7 (WISHAVWARTA);- Punjab Mines and Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal today informed that in a major late-night operation, a joint team of the Mining Department and police conducted raid at illegal sand mining site in Village Kot Sidhu, Tehsil Lopoke in district Amritsar, where the team unearthed active and unauthorized excavation at the site.

The authorities successfully identified three JCB excavators bearing chassis numbers RAJ3DXX4A03117476 and HAR3DXX4K03070706, along with one unnumbered unit and seven tipper trucks registered under numbers PB 02 DX 5572, PB 02 EJ 0301, PB 02 EC 7695, PB 02 ER 7191, PB 02 EE 6944, PB 02 EJ 0410 and PB 02 EQ 9399, he added.

The Cabinet Minister said that FIR No. 0160/2026 was registered at Police Station Bhindi Saidan under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The identities and details of the landowners and vehicle/excavator owners are currently part of the ongoing police investigation to ensure strict legal action against all perpetrators involved.

The Mines and Geology Minister further said that similarly, during an operation conducted by the Mining Department, Ludhiana, a sand-loaded tipper coming from the Sidhwan Bet area was intercepted and checked at night. During inspection, it was found that the vehicle did not have any number plate.

Taking strict action in the matter, the Mining Department handed over the unnumbered tipper to Police Station Sidhwan Bet and an FIR No. 0283 dated 06-10-2026 has been registered.

The Mines and Geology Minister further informed that till October 6, 2026, the Mining Department has registered 247 FIRs and issued 598 challans under Rule 74 and 75 across the State. He said that a total penalty of over Rs.7.92 crore has been imposed against which over Rs.7.69 crore has been recovered.

Giving the details of some districts, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that Amritsar recorded 16 FIRs and 25 challans with a penalty of Rs. 46.87 lakh and recovery of Rs. 42.79 lakh. Hoshiarpur recorded 20 FIRs and 84 challans with a penalty of Rs. 129.39 lakh and recovery of Rs. 125.81 lakh while Pathankot recorded 5 FIRs and 101 challans with a penalty of Rs. 176.89 lakh and the entire amount was recovered.

He further said that Gurdaspur recorded 55 FIRs, the highest among all districts, along with 24 challans with a penalty of Rs. 39.57 lakh and recovery of the entire amount. SAS Nagar recorded 27 FIRs and 67 challans with a penalty of Rs. 87.95 lakh and recovery of Rs. 82.86 lakh while Sri Anandpur Sahib recorded 32 FIRs and 30 challans with a penalty of Rs. 52.99 lakh and recovery of Rs. 48.91 lakh.