After detection of serious environmental and mining Act violations by an industrialist at Lavighat village on the Solan-Subathu road, officials of the district industry department on Thursday visited the site and found that the entrepreneur neither registered the unit with the department nor started production in accordance with mandatory provisions of law.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Madan Chauhan asked the officials of the mining and industry department to submit a detailed report concerning carrying out of unlawful mining operations at the village by the industrialist in the name of running the industry.
Unlawful mining allegedly in connivance with certain officials of the mining department had come to light after the Hindustan Times had highlighted the issue on Wednesday.
The mining and forest officials had visited the site and initiated action in accordance with the law. However, mining department officials instead of lodging an FIR with the police had hushed up the case by completing the formalities of issuing a challan.
The entrepreneur was granted permission to set up an industrial unit under Section 118 of the Land Reforms and Tenancy Act in 2004. The permission to purchase 4 bigahs was granted under the conditions to start production operations within two years that was violated in this particular case. Besides, the entrepreneur also violated the mandatory provisions of permanent registration of unit with the industry department.
"We made a visit to the site and found that the industrialist not only violated the mandatory provisions of starting the production operations within two years after obtaining permission to purchase the land, but also not registered the same with the department till date," said general manager of the district industry department Yashpal Sharma.
{{/usCountry}}"We made a visit to the site and found that the industrialist not only violated the mandatory provisions of starting the production operations within two years after obtaining permission to purchase the land, but also not registered the same with the department till date," said general manager of the district industry department Yashpal Sharma.
{{/usCountry}}He said the spot visit revealed that not even a single machine had been installed inside the building constructed at the village. Since it was a case of open violation of law, the department would recommend cancellation of land's permission to the district magistrate.
Deputy commissioner Madan Chauhan said he has directed the mining and industry department officials to initiate lawful action against the offender, adding that if violation of Section 118 was detected a separate case would be filed.