DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Taking yet another step towards tightening the noose around illegal miners, Haryana has prepared Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) to prevent illegal mining and to strictly deal with the cases related to it. The said SOPs prepared by the Department of Mines and Geology aims to guide all the stakeholders working with the State Government to prevent illegal mining and to deal strictly in cases related to it in Haryana. This information was shared during the review meeting regarding illegal mining held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal with all the Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police held through video conferencing here today. The Chief Secretary was apprised that the SOPs are broadly divided into four categories as per the provisions of the State Rules, 2012. These categories are identification and protection of areas vulnerable to illegal mining activities, investigation of illegal mining on complaint/intimation, vehicles carrying mining material without valid permit. The mining concession holders who are violating the conditions of Mining Plan/Environmental Clearance (EC) is also included in this above said categories. Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure strict implementation of the directions issued regarding illegal mining and environment. He further directed the Deputy Commissioners to visit personally the sites to keep a check on the illegal mining and also ensure action against illegal miners. The Chief Secretary said that on receiving the complaint regarding illegal mining, the Deputy Commissioner should immediately constitute a committee , including one member from the Mining Department and one from the Police Department. This committee will immediately inspect the illegal mining site, if the illegal mining area falls into jurisdiction of the forest land, then the representative of the forest department and revenue department will also be included in the above said Committee. During the inspection, this Committee will also get the videography done of that area and the Deputy Commissioner can also get the videography of such area done through The Chief Secretary directed that illegal mining should be curbed completely and strict action should be ensured against those found involved in such activities. Sh. Kaushal directed that the officers should conduct regular meetings of the District Task Force as well as conduct inspection of the mining areas from time to time. Besides this, the crushers set up in the districts should also be carefully monitored and police patrolling should also be increased in such areas. The Chief Secretary said that the vehicles involved in illegal mining should also be seized and fined. He said that strict arrangements should be made to curb illegal mining in all the districts. Sh. Kaushal directed the officers concerned to set up checkpoints to track the movement of vehicles involved in illegal mining in areas adjoining other states. Besides this, the permits of vehicles should also be checked. Additional Chief Secretary, Environment and Climate Change Department, Sh. Vineet Garg, Principal Secretary, Mines and Geology Department, Sh. Anurag Agarwal, Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Sh. Navdeep Virk and other officers of the department also remained present during the meeting. (editor@dailyworld.in)