Notice to mining firm over illegal sand extraction in MP
District collector Shrikant Pandey issues two notices to Digiana Industries Pvt Ltd, Indore, on February 3 and 6 asking why fines of ₹142 crore and ₹163 crore should not be imposed for illegal sand transportation.
Dewas district collector in Madhya Pradesh has issued notices to a sand mining company asking why a fine of ₹300 crore should not be imposed on it for illegally transporting sand, officials said on Friday.
Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO/ Representative Image
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District collector Shrikant Pandey issues two notices to Digiana Industries Pvt Ltd, Indore, on February 3 and 6 asking why fines of ₹142 crore and ₹163 crore should not be imposed for illegal sand transportation.
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The notice on February 3, 2020, issued to the company director, Tejinder Pal Singh, said that 1.02 lakh cubic metre of sand from a mine at village Dhundhyakhedi in Dewas district, was illegally extracted. This was revealed during an inquiry conducted on February 2, 2020. The notice said: “Since the said amount of sand was supposed to be illegally transported why not a fine of ₹81.92 crore in case of compounding and ₹163 crore in case of non-compounding be imposed.”
Pandey said the company director has been asked to reply within seven days of the receipt of the notices. “Otherwise, action will be taken,” he said.
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In his response, Singh said, “The fact is I have paid more royalty to the government on the sand stocked. There is no charge of illegal mining against me as mines were allotted to me. Surprisingly, I have been asked to pay penalty despite the fact I have abandoned the mines.” He said, “I will certainly reply to the notices and if the collector doesn’t listen to my side I will be free to move the court.”
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In his response, Singh said, “The fact is I have paid more royalty to the government on the sand stocked. There is no charge of illegal mining against me as mines were allotted to me. Surprisingly, I have been asked to pay penalty despite the fact I have abandoned the mines.” He said, “I will certainly reply to the notices and if the collector doesn’t listen to my side I will be free to move the court.”
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