Laldu: The Punjab government has accepted the demand of the farmers to re-cultivate their ruined land due to the spread of sand 

during the floods in the villages near Laldu, giving a big relief to the farmers. Permission has been given to remove the 

accumulated sand. Giving information in this regard, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that this decision of the Punjab 

government will prove to be a boon for those farmers who are demanding for the removal of accumulated sand from the arable 

land, who were very worried about the accumulated sand in their fields. And in this regard are helpless because of the strict 

mining policy. He said that according to the decision of the government led by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, 

farmers can remove the layer of sand from their fields by October 5, 2023.
The Deputy Commissioner further stated that in exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 90 of the Punjab Minor Minerals 

Rules, 2013 notified under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, (Central Act 67 of 1957) and all 

other powers competent in this connection. , the Punjab government has allowed the affected farmers to extract sand from the 

flooded fields.
It may be mentioned that those farmers will be bound to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for removal of soil and 

disposal of soil by District Mining Officers through auction. According to the SOP, farmers can remove sand accumulated in their 

fields due to floods in the state. This will be reported by the farmers to the concerned office of the District Mining Officer. The 

office of the District Mining Officer will ensure that no such operation takes place from any approved agricultural mine (CMS or 

PMS). The office of the District Mining Officer will ensure that illegal mining of mining minerals does not take place under the 

guise of the above notification. Any dispute arising during the execution of this procedure shall be settled at the level of the 

Deputy Commissioner concerned and his decision shall be binding on all parties. Any person violating the above instructions will 

be considered guilty of illegal activity and will be prosecuted under the Mining Act or the Mining Rules.