Stating that illegal mining will not be tolerated under any circumstances, Punjab Water Resources, Mining & Geology and Soil and Water Conservation Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra on Tuesday categorically said that stern action will be initiated against the officials involved in illegal mining and those are not collecting royalties.
During a marathon meeting with MLAs from Majha and officials from the water resources, mining & geology and soil & water conservation departments in Amritsar, the Cabinet Minister said that royalties of soil being used for major projects should be ensured to be deposited in the government treasury. He highlighted that despite the construction of hundreds of kilometers of national highways in the state, their actual royalties have not been collected and asked officials for vigilance and proper attention to these projects. In a firm tone, he warned of departmental action against any officer showing negligence in addressing issues related to illegal mining and royalty.
While reviewing the supply of canal water to fields during the last Kharif season, the government is dedicatedly working towards preserving groundwater for future generations. He emphasized that utilizing canal water is crucial for this endeavour and insisted that no laxity will be tolerated in addressing this issue.
Jauramajra pointed out that previous governments had consistently overlooked this critical issue, resulting in near destruction of the entire canal water infrastructure. Assuring corrective measures, he announced that the upcoming Kharif season would witness the restoration of the canal water system, ensuring its availability to tale end and every field.
The Cabinet Minister also instructed that during the off-season when water flows into the canals, caution must be exercised as excess water can be detrimental to crops. He asserted that impeccable plans should be devised to utilize the water for recharging groundwater. He ordered that department officers should promptly address pending tasks and, for those beyond their jurisdiction, maintain consistent communication with higher officials to ensure timely canal water distribution to every field.
Regarding canal and drain cleaning, the Cabinet Minister said that the government has acquired ten large machines for the task. He said that if the need arises, additional machinery will be purchased to complete the work. He said that earlier the governments used to get this work done by outsourcing but now by purchasing the machines, 60 percent of the cost has been saved while amplifying the efficiency of the work.
On this occasion, MLA Sherry Kalsi, MLA Jasbir Singh Sandhu, Chairman Raman Bahl, Jagrup Singh Sekhwan, Sukhjinderraj Singh Lali Majithia, Chairman Baldev Singh, Chairman Ranjit Singh Cheema, Chairman Balbir Singh Pannu, Samsher Singh Dinanagar, Gurdeep Singh Randhawa and other senior leaders participated in the meeting and shared the issues of their respective areas with the Cabinet Minister.
Meanwhile, all the MLAs and leaders commend the proactive initiative taken by the Cabinet Minister in addressing crucial departments, marking a significant milestone after a long time. They expressed their wholehearted support.
