Ludhiana deputy commissioner (DC) Rahul Tewari conducted raids at different quarries on Saturday to check illegal mining. He seized around 50 trucks and machines and 10 FIRs were also registered.
He said that Section 144 will be implemented soon, after which transporting sand from quarries after 7pm would be banned.
"I have ordered the mining officer to pass the orders to restrict transportation of sand after 7pm," Tewari said.
Once the order is implemented it would not be possible for illegal sand miners to operate after 7pm, who used to operate at night earlier, he said.
After the raids, the whole district was divided into four units (Ludhiana-1, Ludhiana-2 as one unit, Ladhowal, Sidhwan Bet and Machiwara) to ensure regular checks.
Officials of mining department are expected to get police force soon to conduct regular checks on quarries. The DC requested the chief secretary to provide a team of 11 police officers (one non-gazzetted officer, two head constables and eight constables) at the disposal of the mining officer, Ludhiana, to maintain constant check at vulnerable areas falling in each police district.