Illegal Mining Racket Exposed: Govt Loses Crores

A major crackdown on illegal mining operations in Haryana has unearthed a massive revenue scam involving stone crushers across Yamunanagar, Ambala, and Panchkula districts. The Enforcement Bureau’s investigation, launched after noticing discrepancies in online mining portals and unusually high electricity consumption, has sent shockwaves through the state.

The probe revealed that several stone crushers were processing illegally mined minerals, resulting in significant revenue losses for various government departments. This points to a systemic failure in monitoring and regulation.

In Yamunanagar alone, notices have been issued to 17 stone crushers for violating mining regulations. The scale of the illegal operations suggests a deep-rooted problem, potentially involving collusion between officials and operators.

Experts are questioning the efficacy of the Mining Department’s oversight, suggesting a lack of stringent enforcement and possibly complicity in the illegal activities. The investigation is ongoing, and further action is anticipated.

This exposes a critical weakness in the state’s regulatory framework, highlighting the urgent need for improved monitoring and stricter penalties to curb illegal mining and safeguard public revenue. The potential loss to the exchequer runs into crores, impacting crucial development projects.