Dept: 90% of building material is smuggled

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 4

Increase in the smuggling of construction material into Haryana from neighbouring states — UP, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan — poses a major challenge to the Mining and Geology Department.

According to the department officials, nearly 4,500 cases of illegal transportation of construction material were detected in the state in the last two years. Of these, in 90 per cent of the cases the material was transported from neighbouring states without required documentation. The authorities also imposed fine of Rs 9.39 crore on vehicle operators.

In Yamunanagar district, authorities impounded 1,588 vehicles laden (highest in the state) with construction material ferried from UP. As many as 533 vehicles smuggling sand, gravel and other material from Jhunjhunu and other districts of Rajasthan were impounded in Mahendragarh district.

A department official said, “First two counts of violation of mining norms invites fine. An FIR is registered if anyone is found violating norms for the third time. In 90 per cent cases, the material was ferried from neighbouring states without proper documents causing locals to believe it was mined illegally in the state.”

Mines and Geology Minister Om Prakash Dhankar could not be contacted for comments.