Fazilka, March 19: The licences of six of the eight authorised quarries in Fazilka district have been cancelled following irregularities in mining detected during a raid conducted by district administration and other officials last week.
The quarries are in Sukhera Bodla, Mohar Singh Wala-I, Lamochar Kalan, Mahatam Nagar and Rana I and II villages. Sources said the contractors concerned dug the quarries up to 20 feet, which is twice the permissible depth.
The raids were conducted on March 10 by a team led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Ranbir Singh Mudhal.
Following the crackdown, black-marketing and sand hoarding has begun, resulting in steep rise in sand prices. The prices have shot up to about Rs 3,500 per 100 cubic feet, compared to about Rs 1,500 earlier.
Despite gross violations, no action has been taken against the contractors and government officials who were allegedly hand in glove with the violators. The construction work in the district, meanwhile, has virtually come to a halt for want of sand.
Source Tribune India
