Legislation to check unscientific mining in HP: CM

Hamirpur, Jan 29 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government is considering a proposal to bring in legislation to check unscientific mining in river beds of the state.

Addressing a public meeting at Bagehra village on the second day of his five-day tour of the district in the second phase of his winter sojourn to the lower areas of the state yesterday, he said unscientific mining in river beds and banks was causing damage to the state's environment.

Mr Singh said his government would not permit any activity that would damage the state's environment and would take appropriate steps.

The mining activity would not be allowed in areas having a large number of feeding drinking water supply and irrigation schemes, he said.

He said only controlled manual mining was being permitted and that too after observation of all codal formalities to ensure minimum damage to the state's ecology.

In order to make it more scientific, the state government would take appropriate steps to check unscientific mining in the state, he said.

The Chief Minister said one more Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) would be raised in the state soon to strengthen the police department and maintain law and order.

The matter had already been raised with the Centre for raising the Battalion, he said, adding that the government was committed to modernise police force and equip them with the latest gadgets to facilitate scientific investigations.

Earlier, on way to Jangel Beri, a group of BJP workers showed black flags to the Chief Minister for shifting IRB from Khairi in Bamsan area of the district to other part of the state, besides raising anti-government slogans.

UNI