Himachal MLA flags illegal mining; minister promises FIR against landowners
Congress MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania claimed locals lease out land to outsiders who carry out illegal mining through an organised racket
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Congress MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania (File photo)Local landowners are leasing out land to outsiders who carry out illegal mining in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in areas adjoining the Pong Dam, Congress MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania Friday said.
Raining the issue on the Vidhan Sabha, Pathania said, “This is not merely a case of local violation — it is an organized racket where landowners lease their plots to outsiders, allowing them to carry out illegal mining operations under the radar”.
He also criticized the role of local enforcement agencies, claiming that only low-level operators such as drivers of poclain machines, trucks, and JCBs are booked in the First Information Reports (FIRs), while the actual beneficiaries and landowners behind these activities go scot free. “This is a mockery of justice. The real culprits are never held accountable, and the system continues to protect them,” Pathania added.
Responding, Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan assured the House that the government was taking the matter seriously. He said that FIRs will not only be registered against those directly involved in illegal mining but also against the landowners who lease out their land for such unlawful purposes. Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar too condemned the illegal mining practices in areas near Pong Dam and called for stringent action against those responsible.
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