HP sand,gravel reaches Punjab via Panchkula

“We recover Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh each month through the seizure of vehicles carrying sand and gravel,” he said.

However despite the presence of special police barricades and routine patrolling of the road connected with Himachal from Kalaka and Pinjore sides,people continue to ferry sand and gravel.

The crime and mining wing of the district police,in collaboration with personnel from local police stations has been keeping tabs on illegal mining and has also registered cases of theft against those who have been spotted digging the sand illegally from the Ghaggar river bed,officials said. In the past one year 10-15 cases have been lodged at different police stations including that of Chandimandir and Pinjore in the city for theft under Section 379 of IPC against people for digging out sand illegally at different spots along the Ghaggar river.

Assistant Commissioner of police (ACP),Kalka,Kushalpal Singh,said that vigilance has been beefed up to check illegal transportation of sand and gravel from Himachal into Haryana. “Besides the routine patrolling we have put in place special nakas to check the transportation of gravel and sand,” said Kushalpal Singh.

Police officials said that there is an organised racket that works behind the illegal mining and they have been able to detect the cases as the vehicle drivers carrying the sand and gravel from Himachal could not show the purchase receipts.

“Most of these trucks are from Himachal. The sand is being ferried through Panchkula district to be sold later at Mubarkpur in Punjab as well as in Panchkula city,” said a police official.