Chandigarh, October 2026: Punjab’s Mining and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said on Saturday that the state government had intensified its crackdown on illegal mining. He stated that raids conducted at four locations in Pathankot, Kapurthala and Sri Anandpur Sahib had resulted in the seizure of a large number of machines and vehicles used for illegal mining. A case has been registered against a stone crusher owner, and one person has been arrested during the operations.
The Cabinet Minister said that during a late-night operation in Jasswan village in Pathankot district, officials seized a Poclain excavator and an unregistered tipper loaded with approximately 400 cubic feet of gravel.
He said that during inspections by different teams of the District Mining Department in the crusher zone of Jasswan village, officials found a yellow Poclain machine at Trehan Stone Crusher, bearing model number R215L and CR number N635D01027. An unregistered tipper, bearing chassis number MAT 569054 TAD 12679, was also found carrying approximately 400 cubic feet of gravel.
The police took possession of the excavator and the gravel-loaded tipper. A case has been registered at Taragarh Police Station under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals Act, 1957, and Sections 303(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The minister further stated that Trehan Stone Crusher had already been suspended by the Executive Engineer, Drainage-cum-Mining and Geology, through letter No. 5243 dated May 22, 2026. Despite the suspension, the crusher was allegedly being operated with the help of a generator to process and sell mineral material. The crusher owner was reportedly misleading people by claiming that the unit was operating with government approval.
According to departmental records, the stone crusher is registered in the name of Navjot Singh, son of Khazan Singh, a resident of Manwal Bagh village, under Shahpurkandi Police Station in Pathankot district.
Six Tippers, a Poclain Machine and a Tractor Seized in Kapurthala; One Person Arrested
In a separate operation in Kapurthala district, the Mining Department’s flying squad, in coordination with local police, raided Khizarpur village and seized six tippers, a Poclain excavator and a tractor allegedly involved in illegal mining activities. Two of the seized tippers were found loaded with approximately 800 cubic feet of sand each.
An FIR has been registered at Talwandi Chaudhrian Police Station under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act against Michael, a resident of Lamma Pind in Jalandhar, and five unidentified persons.
Two Illegal Mining Cases Reported in Sri Anandpur Sahib; Poclain Machine Seized
Similarly, raids were conducted over the past two days in Sawara village in Sri Anandpur Sahib district to prevent illegal mining.
In the first case, FIR No. 152 was registered on October 16, 2026, against a landowner allegedly involved in illegal mining. In the second case, a complaint was filed against another landowner. An orange-coloured Tata Hitachi AX 110i Poclain excavator allegedly used for illegal mining was seized and handed over to the police.
Mining and Geology Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal said the government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, was taking strict legal action to curb illegal mining and prosecute those violating the rules.
He said the Mining Department was working continuously with the police to detect illegal mining activities and bring those responsible to justice.
The Cabinet Minister added that strict enforcement of the law was being ensured to prevent losses to the state exchequer. Action was also being taken to ensure that all mining activities were conducted in accordance with prescribed rules and legal provisions.
