Haryana to crack down on illegal sand mining

Rattled by the death of a policeman while trying to stop a dumper filled with illegally mined sand, the district administration and Special Task Force (STF) have launched a crackdown on illegal sand mining along the Yamuna in Faridabad.

Rattled by the death of a policeman while trying to stop a dumper filled with illegally mined sand, the district administration and Special Task Force (STF) have launched a crackdown on illegal sand mining along the Yamuna in Faridabad.

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Faridabad deputy commissioner Balraj Singh visited the Yamuna belt on Wednesday and called a meeting to chalk out a plan to take on the sand mafia. It was decided that the STF, constituted a few years ago to prevent illegal sand mining, would visit the area on Thursday to take stock of the issue and draw a road map. Among others those who will visit are DCP (Headquarters), sub-divisional magistrate, officers of the mining department and pollution control board.

The administration is also likely to initiate action against village heads for not informing authorities about illegal mining activity in their areas.
"It is the duty of the sarpanchs to inform the administration about illegal sand mining," the deputy commissioner said, adding, "We can go to the extent of suspending the village heads, if they are found guilty of being involved with the sand mafia."

On Wednesday, there was a huge deployment of police force along the Yamuna belt with police officers checking the movement of vehicles and seized five tractors with sand.