Chandigarh/Amritsar/Ludhiana: Punjab Mines and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal today informed that in a major late-night operation, a joint team of the Mining Department and police conducted raid at illegal sand mining site in Village Kot Sidhu, Tehsil Lopoke in district Amritsar, where the team unearthed active and unauthorized excavation at the site.
The authorities successfully identified three JCB excavators bearing chassis numbers RAJ3DXX4A03117476 and HAR3DXX4K03070706, along with one unnumbered unit and seven tipper trucks registered under numbers PB 02 DX 5572, PB 02 EJ 0301, PB 02 EC 7695, PB 02 ER 7191, PB 02 EE 6944, PB 02 EJ 0410 and PB 02 EQ 9399, he added.
The Cabinet Minister said that FIR No. 0160/2026 was registered at Police Station Bhindi Saidan under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The identities and details of the landowners and vehicle/excavator owners are currently part of the ongoing police investigation to ensure strict legal action against all perpetrators involved.
The Mines and Geology Minister further said that similarly, during an operation conducted by the Mining Department, Ludhiana, a sand-loaded tipper coming from the Sidhwan Bet area was intercepted and checked at night. During inspection, it was found that the vehicle did not have any number plate.
He further said that Gurdaspur recorded 55 FIRs, the highest among all districts, along with 24 challans with a penalty of Rs. 39.57 lakh and recovery of the entire amount. SAS Nagar recorded 27 FIRs and 67 challans with a penalty of Rs. 87.95 lakh and recovery of Rs. 82.86 lakh while Sri Anandpur Sahib recorded 32 FIRs and 30 challans with a penalty of Rs. 52.99 lakh and recovery of Rs. 48.91 lakh.
