Disclose names involved in illegal mining: Oppn ask Pb CM

Opposition parties AAP and BJP today stepped up attack on Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh over illegal mining in the state, asking him to name those found to be involved in the illegal activity during a recent crackdown in Nawanshahr and Jalandhar districts.
The opposition also sought formation of an all party Vidhan Sabha Committee to check illegal mining in the state.
Congress led government has been under fire from opposition which had alleged that illegal mining was rampant in the state at the behest of some ruling party MLAs.
"Punjab CM should reveal the names of those who were involved in illegal mining during a crackdown launched in Nawanshahr and Jalandhar districts," Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, said today.

Notably, Amarinder had spotted illegal mining on the Sutlej river bed while flying over the area in a chopper on way to Kartarpur on March 6 and ordered a through probe.
The Nawanshahr authorities had seized some heavy earth moving machines along with two Forklifts and 30 Tippers (Trucks) from village Malikpur following his directive.

"Two day have passed since CM spotted illegal mining and till now, we have not been able to come to know that who were engaged into illegal mining," said Khaira.
"It is not the truck drivers who were carrying out illegal mining. There must be some influential persons behind this whole nexus which needs to be exposed," Khaira said.

Punjab BJP described the crackdown by the state government against illegal mining as "eyewash".
"The CM took one year to act against illegal mining despite the media highlighted several cases of illegal mining. It is just an eyewash," said BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh.
"The government must disclose the names of persons involved in the illegal mining," demanded Chugh.
Notably, Punjab CM today held a meeting with the DCs and SSPs of 14 districts to discuss the issue of illegal mining as well as the state's mining policy.
The cabinet yesterday set up a sub-committee to review the mining policy and suggest ways of making it more effective and stringent.

The sub-committee consisted of Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and Rural Development & Panchayats Minister Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa.