MOHALI, July 28 — The Punjab Department of Mines and Geology has uncovered six unapproved mining sites across Mohali district following an intensive month-long enforcement drive conducted throughout July. Field inspections confirmed that over 12.79 lakh cubic feet of minor minerals and earth were illicitly extracted across locations including Kheri Jattan, Mukandpur, Haibatpur, Bijanpur, Rampur Sainian, and an additional site in the Dera Bassi sector.
Executive Engineer-cum-District Mining Officer Gurtej Singh Garcha stated that inspection teams utilized GPS coordinates to verify the scope of unapproved digs.
Garcha declared that field inspections conducted by SDO Pardeep Kumar and mining inspectors confirmed significant excavation at spots operating without any valid permits. He maintained that the largest single unapproved site accounted for approximately 6.55 lakh cubic feet of extracted material.
Department officials affirmed that formal requests have been sent to the Revenue Department to carry out precise land demarcation and identify parcel ownership through khasra records. Legal proceedings have been initiated under Sections 4(1) and 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Police authorities state that criminal cases have been registered regarding various violations, including an incident at Handesra involving the unauthorized excavation of nearly 40.50 lakh cubic feet of earth near the Tangri river.
