Bajwa asks HC to take suo motu notice of illegal mining in Punjab

Friday, 02/08/2013

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=76780&boxid=57977&uid=&dat=2013-08-02

Sujanpur : President Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Partap Singh Bajwa on Thursday said that illegal mining of sand and gravel in Punjab had the patronage of ruling SAD-BJP alliance and the police had become a tool in the hands of mining mafia.

He requested the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court to take suo motu notice of political connivance in illegal mining.

Addressing a meeting of party workers here, Bajwa said that illegal mining was rampant in Pathankot and surrounding areas mainly in bed of Ravi river and Chakki rivulet. He said that in other districts too, the illegal mining of sand was being carried out under the police protection.

He added that SAD-BJP leaders were making good fortune from the illegal mining, whereas the common people were suffering. The development works and housing projects in the state were at stand still due to inflated rates of sand and gravel and many construction companies had abandoned the major road and building projects.

Bajwa alleged that BJP was fully responsible for imposition of taxes on urban people and introduction of e-trip system of tax collection. According to him, the BJP ministers in the SAD-BJP government had never opposed the proposals of e-trip, property tax, power tariff hike and hefty fee on regularisation of illegal colonies.

He further said that property tax was reduced under pressure from Congress party and the Congress would continue its agitation against other anti-people proposals.

PPCC president said that the SAD-BJP government had made false promises with industrialists, traders and other people to win the last assembly elections.

He said that Rs 400 crore refund of VAT was still pending with the government and the present government had tightened the noose around the neck of businessmen, making it difficult for them to survive the competition.

He said that in the industrial policy, the SAD-BJP government had not given any relief to the existing industry. Industry was shifting to other states, he added.

Bajwa said that he had demanded from the Central government to give special industrial package for border districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilika in the larger interests of Punjab.

He said that land and water were available in plenty at low cost in these districts as compared to developed districts like Ludhiana and Mohali. He said that if special package was given to border districts, the industry from Ludhiana and Mohali would relocate.