Mining: Cong forms fact-finding panel

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ajay Singh on Monday announced setting up of a two-member party committee to inquire about the dumpers seized in connection with illegal sand mining in Hoshangabad district.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ajay Singh on Monday announced setting up of a two-member party committee to inquire whether 100odd dumpers seized in connection with illegal sand mining in Hoshangabad district were let off and only about 50 were impounded so as to hide the extent of illegal sand mining on the coast of Narmada.

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The panel will be headed by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) chief whip Narmada Prasad Prajapati, Bhagwan Singh Rajput is the other member of the committee.

Ajay alleged that sand mining was rampant in the state even after the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT’s) ban on the practice without environmental clearance.

The Opposition leader said out of 150 dumpers, allegedly carrying illegally mined sand, seized in Hoshangabad district last week, only 50 vehicles were challaned.

The NGT on August 5 had restrained sand mining without licence or environmental clearance from riverbeds across the country.