Chandigarh, Oct 31: The Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has maintained a zero-tolerance policy against illegal mining, registering 1,845 FIRs and executing 3,988 seizures across the state over the last five years. Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan on Friday, Mines and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal affirmed that out of ₹28.70 crore in penalties imposed by the department, an amount of ₹27.33 crore has already been recovered.
The Minister shared comprehensive year-wise enforcement metrics, highlighting a noticeable escalation in field operations. During 2026 alone, the department registered 247 FIRs and executed 668 seizures of machinery and vehicles, recovering ₹8.02 crore out of ₹8.67 crore in total penalties. Recent joint raids conducted with local police across Ludhiana, Amritsar, Sri Chamkaur Sahib, Kapurthala, and Pathankot led to the arrest of multiple individuals alongside the confiscation of heavy excavators and transport tippers.
Barinder Kumar Goyal maintained that the state administration remains determined to eradicate unauthorized mineral extraction through continuous surveillance and strict compliance with the Punjab Minor Mineral Rules, 2013. He asserted that departmental flying squads and police teams will continue conducting coordinated night operations and field inspections to enforce complete accountability across all districts.
