Punjab govt registered 1,845 FIRs in 5-year anti-mining drive: Minister
Chandigarh: As part of action against illegal mining , the Punjab govt has registered 1,845 FIRs and made 3,988 seizures across the state over the last five years, mines and geology minister Barinder Kumar Goyal claimed on Friday.
He added that the mining department imposed Rs 28.70 crore in penalties, recovering Rs 27.33 crore of the total amount.
Sharing details for 2026, Goyal said the department registered 247 FIRs and made 668 seizures of machinery and vehicles during the year. Penalties of Rs 8.67 crore have been imposed, out of which Rs 8.02 crore has already been recovered. “These figures reflect the intensified enforcement and sustained field-level action,” he said.
“The mining department, in coordination with the police, has intensified its action to curb unauthorised extraction and transportation of minerals and ensure strict compliance with mining regulations,” he added.
On Oct 7, a joint team of mining officials and police detected illegal sand excavation at village Kot Sidhu in Lopoke tehsil of Amritsar. During the operation, three identified JCB excavators, one unnumbered excavator and seven tippers were identified in connection with the illegal activity.
Similarly, on Oct 11, a joint team conducted a night operation in the Sri Chamkaur Sahib area of Rupnagar district, during which five persons involved in illegal mining were arrested.
He added that the mining department imposed Rs 28.70 crore in penalties, recovering Rs 27.33 crore of the total amount.
Sharing details for 2026, Goyal said the department registered 247 FIRs and made 668 seizures of machinery and vehicles during the year. Penalties of Rs 8.67 crore have been imposed, out of which Rs 8.02 crore has already been recovered. “These figures reflect the intensified enforcement and sustained field-level action,” he said.
“The mining department, in coordination with the police, has intensified its action to curb unauthorised extraction and transportation of minerals and ensure strict compliance with mining regulations,” he added.
On Oct 7, a joint team of mining officials and police detected illegal sand excavation at village Kot Sidhu in Lopoke tehsil of Amritsar. During the operation, three identified JCB excavators, one unnumbered excavator and seven tippers were identified in connection with the illegal activity.
Similarly, on Oct 11, a joint team conducted a night operation in the Sri Chamkaur Sahib area of Rupnagar district, during which five persons involved in illegal mining were arrested.
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