Amritsar:BJP Punjab spokesperson and Sikh thinker Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala on Monday said that the stern observations made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding alleged illegal mining in Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, along with the serious questions raised over the Punjab Government’s mining policy, have reinforced the BJP’s long-standing allegations that large-scale illegal mining continues under the Bhagwant Mann Government.
Prof. Khiala said that if the Mann Government’s claim of having completely curbed illegal mining in Punjab is true, then why has the Punjab and Haryana High Court been compelled to intervene repeatedly in one case after another?
Launching a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Prof. Khiala recalled that before the Punjab Assembly elections, Kejriwal had alleged at a public rally in Moga that illegal sand mining under the then Congress government was one of the biggest scams in the state and that the proceeds from illegal mining reached “the highest levels.” Kejriwal had also claimed that Punjab could generate ₹20,000 crore annually from its mining sector through transparent governance.
Prof. Khiala said the people of Punjab now deserve clear answers from Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. “If Punjab’s mining sector has the potential to generate ₹20,000 crore annually, why is the state exchequer reportedly receiving only around ₹200–300 crore today? Who will account for the remaining thousands of crores? The same Arvind Kejriwal who once claimed that illegal mining money travelled ‘to the top’ should now explain where Punjab’s mining revenue is going today.”
Referring to the recent High Court proceedings, Prof. Khiala said that the Court, relying on a report submitted by the District Legal Services Authority, has taken note of the presence of heavy mining machinery and large-scale mining activities in parts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur. The Court has directed the Deputy Commissioners and District Mining Officers concerned to immediately stop alleged unauthorised mining, conduct videography of the affected areas and submit detailed status reports. The Court has also warned that any violation of its directions could result in personal accountability being fixed on the concerned officers.
He further noted that in the Hoshiarpur case, the High Court took serious note of allegations relating to large-scale illegal mining, extensive hill cutting and the operation of numerous stone crushers, and sought a comprehensive status report from the State Government in view of the significant public interest involved.
Prof. Khiala said Punjab’s rivers, hills and mineral resources are not the property of any government but the shared natural heritage of the people of Punjab. “When serious concerns continue to be raised regarding the alleged exploitation of these natural resources and the High Court is repeatedly required to intervene, the Government must be held accountable,” he said.
He also questioned whether alleged illegal mining activities in the Ravi river belt and other areas were enjoying the patronage of the ruling establishment. “If everything is being carried out strictly in accordance with the law, why does the High Court have to intervene repeatedly? What concrete measures has the Punjab Government taken to protect the State’s natural resources?” he asked.
Prof. Khiala asserted that the people of Punjab have every right to demand transparency, accountability and a complete accounting of every rupee generated from the State’s natural resources.