BSF illegal mining report: Workers with unproven credentials along border a security hazard, Punjab and Haryana HC told

Pannu and others had previously told the HC that in the areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur adjacent to Pakistan border and right across the Ravi River, the illegal mining has resulted in creation of gorges and ditches which seriously jeopardise the security of the country and in fact has practically become an entry point for infiltrators and terrorists.

The HC in the previous hearing had thus called for reports from the BSF, Army, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change as well as National Institute of Hydrology, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India in respect of the illegal mining, if any, being carried out in Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts which is allegedly causing huge threat to the national security at the International Border between India and Pakistan.

As the matter came up for hearing before the HC on August 2, the State of Punjab filed an affidavit sworn by the Principal Secretary to Government of Punjab, Department of Water Resources, Mining, and Geology, before the division bench.

The Punjab government in its report to curb illegal mining in the state mentioned that the ‘Enforcement Directorate of Mining’ – created in March 2021 – had received 151 complaints of illegal mining in Punjab from April 1, 2021, to July 26, 2022. From January 1, 2022, to July 26, 2022, a total of 42 complaints were received by the Directorate which have been further forwarded to the police for action.

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The Punjab government’s report further stated that 603 FIRs had been registered against 958 individuals from January 1 to July 26 this year. As many as 690 people had been arrested, of which 663 were released on bail by the lower courts. No less than 536 vehicles, out of 777 impounded by police during the period, were released by the lower courts.