Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh admitted bitter truth of illegal mining in Himachal Pradesh and that was too under the strong political patronage. However, in the Vidhan Sabha, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh assured to tighten the noose around the mafia by framing tough laws which include the seizure of vehicles involved in mining and cancellation of licences.
Chief Minister said that since mining in neighbor Punjab was banned and that’s why on Himachal side, it’s going on in a large scale in areas. The Chief Minister said the cabinet had approved a new mining policy with a provision to allow locals bonafide use of sand and gravel.
Earlier this month IAS officer Yunus Khan had a narrow escape of life when a tractor-trailer loaded with gravel tried to ram into his official vehicle while he was checking illegal quarrying in Nalagarh area, bordering Punjab. Even before as well mining mafia had tried to harm officer. However, police had arrested accused and now he is on bail.
