BHOPAL: Despite all talk of the crackdown on illegal mining, the mining mafia is operating with impunity right under the nose of the state government – in the industrial township of Mandideep, a short distance away from the capital. The mafia has razed a hillock in Mandideep and the mined stone boulders are being sold openly.
These boulders are being used for construction work in Indian Container Depot, which is an undertaking of the Central Government, with the officials concerned playing mute spectators.
The boulders are being sold at the rate of Rs 4 per piece. The contractor, who has been assigned the job of razing the hillock, said the boulders would be sold at the rate of Rs 4 per stone block to anyone who brings his vehicle for carting them away.
The contractor said another hillock is also being razed in Kajlikheda and a vehicle is available there for hire. The contractor, however, refused to say anything when asked whether he had obtained the requisite information.
Industrial Centre Development Corporation, managing director, JN Vyas said the land belonged to the Municipality and the AKVN has no control over it.
SDM Rajesh Shrivastava said that the land had been transferred to the municipal committee and if illegal mining is being done on the land, the administration would definitely take action.
Efforts to contact Mandideep Municipality CMO, Rajesh Shrivastava were made but he could not be contacted.
