Garhwal Post Bureau
Laksar (Haridwar), 29 Jun: Following persistent complaints by the local residents regarding illegal mining activities in the Laksar area of Haridwar district, the administration has launched a stringent drive to curb unlawful operations and protect state revenue. District Magistrate Mayur Dixit, taking a tough stand against the mining mafia, directed a joint team comprising officials from the Revenue and Mining departments to conduct targeted raids across the region. This coordinated effort, carried out late at night in Laksar Tehsil, has sent shockwaves through the local mining community.
As part of the crackdown, eight stone crushers found to be involved in illegal mining and storage have been sealed by the administration. The stone crushers shut down include Kisan Stone Crusher (Mahtoli), Ganpati Stone Crusher (Jheenverheri), Wania Stone Crusher (Mahtoli), Tulsi Stone Crusher (Muzaffarpur Gujra), Surya Stone Crusher (Muzaffarpur Gujra), Doon Stone Crusher (Mahtoli), Shubh Stone Crusher (Muzaffarpur Gujra), and National Associate (Muzaffarpur Gujra). In addition to sealing these units, authorities have also deactivated their e-Ravanna portals, effectively suspending all online permits related to mineral transportation. This move has brought operations at these sites to an immediate halt.
Following the administrative action against the stone crushers, DM Mayur Dixit asserted that such enforcement measures will continue with full intensity. He stated that individuals and enterprises responsible for illegal mining and unauthorised storage of mined items, thereby causing considerable financial damage to the state, will not be spared under any circumstances. He further shared that, under his directives, 12 stone crushers in total have been shut down across the district to date. He has also instructed officials to actively monitor roadways and impound any vehicles found transporting minerals without valid authorisation, as part of sustained efforts to dismantle the illegal mining network.
It will be pertinent to remind here that this crackdown comes after persistent public complaints in this regard and the fact that the local people have been for long voicing their concerns over environmental degradation, disruption of agricultural activities, and unauthorised resource extraction caused as a result of widespread illegal mining and stone crushing.
