CHAMKAUR SAHIB (ROOPNAGAR): Rubbishing claims made by the Aam Aadmi Party’s Delhi leaders of illegal mining in CM Channi’s own constituency, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday took a round of mining sites, where he found nothing illegal as the sand was being sold @ Rs. 5.50 per cusec as stipulated by the State Government.
Giving a strict warning to AAP leaders landed from Delhi, the Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi made it very clear that no outsider would be allowed to create unfounded hue & cry just for their vested political interests and the Government would not hesitate in future to initiate action against such acts of political ambitions. CM Channi along with civil and police officials visited Badi Haveli mining site, where de-silting work is going on with Government machinery, and interacted with the drivers getting sand loaded in trucks about the price being paid by them. All the drivers revealed that the after the policy rolled out by the State Government the price was fixed at Rs. 5.50 and all the documents of mining were valid making claims of AAP Delhi leaders false. The CM also pointed out that the he wanted to provide free of cost sand at mining sites but due to a contract made in past, he was unable to do so. The said contract is valid up to March 31, said the CM Channi adding that people would get sand/gravel at more cheaper rates in future.
Expressing immense satisfaction over legal mining at site, the CM Channi lashed out at AAP leaders Raghav Chadha and other for trying to befool people on sand prices. The CM said that Chadha and other outsider leaders would not be allowed to create baseless issues, which further disrupting smooth functioning of the state. He said action would be initiated in the future for such theatric acts of Chadha and other Delhi AAP leaders Munish Sisodia, who entered in a school a few days back. On the other hand, the CM Channi also also welcomed the Punjab based AAP leaders, workers and general masses to bring any illegal activities to Government’s notice so that necessary steps could be ensured. “We have made activities at mining sites open, any Punjabi, Punjab based AAP leaders/workers can make video but we will not allow any outsider for such dramatic acts,” he added.
Referring to a query regarding a letter regarding of transfer of a forest range officer, the CM Channi also made it clear that anyone could ask him whether he got himself transferred or he was shifted by the Government. However, the CM also stated that there is a big sand mound between the passage of river, which is being cleared by desilting to ensure the smooth flow of water. He said that the removal of sand mound was necessary, which obstruct the flow of water otherwise the overflow of water damaged the villages falling in Chamkaur Sahib area. The CM Channi said that the State Government was getting the river bed properly desilted to ensure that the water flow of this river could be channelized.
Notably, the Chief Minister was on a visit to the mining sites in the constituency to ascertain the ground level situation with regard to finding the truth about allegations leveled by Raghav Chaddha. “I have found out that there is not even an iota of truth in the rantings of AAP leader and the sand is being mined at the rates determined by the State Government”, said Channi adding that the AAP leadership should better concentrate its energies on improving the lot of the people of Delhi rather than meddling in the internal matters of Punjab.