Revenue and forest departments blamed for illegal mining

Inspector General of Police Gur Bachan Lal held the Revenue and Forest Departments responsible for continued illegal mining of sand and stone in the Medhuwala area of Najibabad which had caused the death of eight labourers in June this year.

Inspector General of Police Gur Bachan Lal on Wednesday held the Revenue and Forest Departments responsible for continued illegal mining of sand and stone in the Medhuwala area of Najibabad which had caused the death of eight labourers in June this year.

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Talking to reporters at Najibabad on Tuesday after inspecting the site of the tragedy, he said it was apparent that the officials and the concerned clerks of the Revenue Department did not seriously follow the rules regarding the mining process.

He said he was surprised to see digging of the dry river bed for sand and stones upto the depth of even 40 feet which was utterly wrong.

The Forest Department also seems to be colluding with the mafia contractors by not stopping them from digging the river bed well inside the forest area, he alleged.

The police official had come here on behalf of the National Human Rights Commission to find out the cause of the death of eight laboures buried alive under mounds of sands while engaged in mining on June 27, 2009.