Enforcement of illicit mining in Paonta Sahib by the Forest Department

Today, the Paonta Sahib Forest Range Officer carried out a raid on illicit mining and confiscated a vehicle and five tractors, collecting a fine of Rs 1.16 lakh. With the help of the Paonta Sahib Forest Block Officer and forest guards from the appropriate beat, many places were targeted, including Rajban, Nawada, Rampurghat, and Matarali.

The Paonta Sahib Forest Division’s campaign to stop illicit activities in the area includes the current raid. Over Rs 51.28 lakh in fines for unlawful mining have been collected between March 2023 and March 2024. In addition, the Forest Department demolished 7,660 liters of illegal alcohol that were discovered after the breakdown of nine liquor furnaces hidden underneath forests. In addition, the government filed a lawsuit to investigate the irregularities pertaining to sawmills and retail depots, which resulted in the collection of a Rs 7.27 lakh fine.

A punishment of Rs 2.32 lakh was issued in five incidents involving the dumping of waste and the discharge of industrial effluent on Forest Department property in an effort to protect forest areas.

The majority of infractions, according to Aishwarya Raj, Divisional Forest Officer of Paonta Sahib Forest Division, happened in reserve woods.

Since most cars used for illicit mining don’t have license plates, the department is issuing challans in the driver’s name rather than the owner of the vehicle.