SAS Nagar, December 31, 2024: Reiterating her commitment to take strict action against illegal mining, Deputy Commissioner, Ashika Jain has ordered the mining authorities to replace the existing CCTV cameras at interstate check posts in the district with ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras.
Disclosing this, Deputy Commissioner Jain said that with this initiative, SAS Nagar district will become the first district in the state to install such a modern check system and will further strengthen its efforts to stop illegal mining.
He said that in addition to the existing three interstate check posts established at Siswan T Point, Dufferpur and Handesra, another check post has been approved on Derabassi-Barwala road.
Elaborating on the steps taken by the district administration to crack down on illegal mining, he said that apart from replacing CCTV cameras with APNR at all interstate check posts, 12 guards will also be deployed at all four check posts starting from Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation.
He said that the interstate check posts also ensure that any vehicle carrying mining material should have a GST bill with QR code so that it can be ensured that the material loaded by the vehicle has been purchased legally. Zero slips are issued to these vehicles for entry in the records of these check posts. If the tipper carrying the mining material fails to produce any bill or valid document regarding the material, then a challan is issued under Section 74 and 75 of the Punjab Minor Mineral Rules (PMMR). The Deputy Commissioner said that strict action is already being taken against illegal mining in the district and a fine of Rs 3.36 crore has been collected during the last six months. The ANPR cameras will prove to be more helpful in taking strict action against those who escape from the check post through their registration plates and other identifications of the vehicles. He said that the Mohali administration will not spare the culprits of illegal mining and all possible efforts will be made to take action as per the law against every violator.