Ropar MLA Dinesh Chadha Seeks Strict Enforcement of Punjab State Mining Policy-2025; Flags Lapses in Illegal Mining Control

Ropar AAP MLA Dinesh Chadha has issued a strongly worded communication to the district administration, urging immediate and full implementation of the Punjab State Mining Policy-2025 to curb illegal mining activities in the district. The letter, addressed to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), follows recent media reports highlighting late-night excavation and transportation of material from riverbeds in Ropar.

Referring to investigative footage published in The Tribune, Chadha questioned how excavators and tippers could operate openly during restricted hours without the knowledge of authorities. “If newspapers and channels can capture such activity so easily, how can the administration claim ignorance?” he wrote, calling for greater vigilance and accountability.

Chadha noted that the policy, implemented by the Punjab Government in July 2025, aims to regularise mining operations through scientific demarcation of blocks, e-auction of sites, GPS-enabled tracking of vehicles, CCTV surveillance, and a strict ban on night mining. He emphasised that any deviation from these norms must not be treated as a routine lapse but as wilful negligence on the part of officials responsible for enforcement.

The MLA demanded that responsibility be clearly fixed on officers—from mining inspectors to SHOs and patrolling teams—if illegal mining occurs in their jurisdictions. He stressed that continued unauthorised extraction reflects poorly on the district administration and undermines the transparency-driven system created by the state government.

Chadha called for immediate corrective action and complete enforcement of the Mining Policy-2025, stating that illegal mining is not only an environmental threat but also a direct challenge to the authority of the Punjab Government.