Ludhiana, May 6 (IANS) Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal along with 25 sarpanches and representatives from nearly 50 villages of the Sahnewal assembly on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana, demanding halt to illegal mining activities in the area.
Later addressing the media, Baliawal said despite AAP’s promises of ending illegal mining in Punjab, mining activities are continuing openly day and night under the government’s watch.
He said the people of villages and adjoining areas are living under constant fear due to the large-scale mining being carried out near residential colonies and agricultural land.
He warned that unchecked mining near river areas could create flood-like situations during the monsoon and put nearby villages and residential colonies at serious risk.
The BJP leader said residents from nearly 50 villages have united against the mining mafia and accused the government of completely failing to control illegal mining.
“The people of Punjab were promised clean governance, but today illegal mining is thriving openly,” he said in a statement.
Demanding immediate action, Baliawal warned that “if the government fails to stop the mining activities, villagers along with BJP workers and panchayat representatives will launch a permanent protest in the coming days”.
Last year in September, Union Minister B.L. Verma had visited Sasrali village in Sahnewal to review the flood situation and the measures being undertaken to protect the affected areas.
He inspected over 2.5 km of temporary embankments constructed with the active support of the villagers to safeguard their farmland and homes.
During the visit, Baliawal had apprised the minister about the extent of the devastation. He had informed that nearly 450 acres of fertile agricultural land had been washed away into the Sutlej river, and categorically highlighted illegal mining in the region as the primary reason for such large-scale destruction.
The minister had interacted with residents and farmers of the affected areas, assuring them of the Central government’s full support.
–IANS
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