By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 25 Jun: The government has removed District Mining Officer Qasim Raza from his post and attached him to the Directorate following a controversy that erupted during an inquiry into allegations of illegal lifting of soil excavated from a drain in the Motichur area. Amit Gaurav has been entrusted with the additional charge of District Mining Officer, Haridwar.
The action comes in the wake of a verbal confrontation that had occurred on Tuesday during an inspection into complaints regarding the alleged unauthorised transportation and dumping of soil removed during drain excavation work. The departmental action against Qasim Raza has come in the wake of a public confrontation with Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) district president Gokul Singh Rawat, which had triggered widespread discussion and criticism on social media.
The controversy arose after Gokul Singh Rawat accused the District Mining Officer of behaving in an inappropriate manner during an inspection in the Motichur area. Rawat had alleged that the soil excavated from a drain outside Motichur Railway Station was being transported and dumped on private land without the required permission. He had lodged a complaint with the administration seeking action in the matter.
Acting on the complaint, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit directed the District Mining Officer to conduct an inquiry. During the inspection, a heated brawl took place between the two sides over the manner in which the inquiry was being conducted. A video of the incident subsequently had gone viral on social media, leading to resentment among UKD workers and demands for action against the mining officer.
Following the controversy, the Government ordered the immediate removal of Qasim Raza from the post of District Mining Officer. Raza has been attached to the Directorate now. Amit Gaurav, who was serving in the Directorate, has now been given charge of the Haridwar district mining office.
However, the controversy surrounding the alleged illegal soil lifting has not ended with the transfer. UKD leaders have maintained that the inquiry into the matter remains incomplete and that action should not be restricted merely to the transfer of the mining officer.
Speaking to media persons, Gokul Singh Rawat alleged that a contract had been initially awarded for cleaning the drain, but later soil was excavated to a depth of nearly eight to ten feet and disposed of elsewhere in alleged connivance with certain persons. Rawat reminded that he had raised objections during the excavation itself and had approached officials of Rajaji Tiger Reserve and the Haridwar Municipal Corporation, but no action was taken on his complaint. According to him, it was only after the District Magistrate intervened that the mining department initiated an inquiry.
Rawat further alleged that even during the inspection, no effective action was taken on illegal transportation and dumping of soil on private land and instead he was subjected to inappropriate behaviour. He claimed that the soil dumped on land belonging to an ashram had since been spread out and the area levelled, making it necessary for authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. He demanded action not only against officials found responsible but also against those allegedly involved in the illegal lifting and transportation of soil.
Recalling the events leading up to the controversy, Rawat said he had informed the administration that soil excavated from a drain outside Motichur Railway Station was being transported without permission and dumped on vacant land belonging to an ashram. He alleged that those involved had claimed the soil would eventually be used in ongoing highway construction work. Despite complaints to Rajaji Tiger Reserve and Municipal Corporation officials, no action was taken, following which the District Magistrate ordered an inquiry.
Rawat claimed that when he showed the inspection team the site where the soil had been dumped, District Mining Officer Qasim Raza failed to carry out a proper investigation and instead engaged in a verbal altercation with him. He further alleged that the officer also objected to media coverage of the inspection and even attempted to snatch a journalist’s mobile phone. The journalist was apparently trying to film the incident and the soil.
Rawat said he had identified himself as a statehood movement activist and UKD district president and demanded action in the matter, but alleged that the officer ignored his concerns and left the site without carrying out proper measurements. The viral video of the incident subsequently fuelled anger among UKD workers.
Stating that activists had sacrificed greatly during the Uttarakhand statehood movement, Rawat said such behaviour by officials would not be tolerated. He alleged that the soil had been removed illegally in connivance with certain individuals and demanded that both the DM and the Chief Minister order a detailed inquiry into the conduct of the officer and the alleged soil theft.
Meanwhile, responding to the allegations before his removal, Qasim Raza had yesterday maintained that all the accusations against him were baseless. He stated that the department had received a complaint regarding unauthorised lifting of soil and that he personally visited the site to conduct an inquiry. According to him, measurements of the excavated soil had been carried out and action to impose penalties would be taken on the basis of those measurements.
Today, District Magistrate Mayur Dixit confirmed that the Government has attached Qasim Raza to the Directorate at the State level and that Amit Gaurav had assumed charge as the new District Mining Officer for Haridwar.
