Slamming the Samajwadi Party government over the issue of illegal sand mining in Uttar Pradesh, BJP on Monday alleged that the practice continues unabated in the state despite statements by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
"Although the SP government has rejected illegal mining, it is still flourishing and mining mafias are active (in UP)," state BJP's chief spokesman, Vijay Bahadur Pathak, told reporters on Monday. "The government claims it was acting against illegal mining, but that never happens in reality.
"Otherwise dumpers in Noida and JCB machines and trucks in Jalaun would not have been recovered," he said. Illegal mining was going on in Lucknow itself, which was the centre of power, he said. Police and other government officials in the state were being attacked when they tried to check illegal mining, Pathak further alleged.
He said that Akhilesh should send out a message by taking strong action against illegal mining. UP government is at the centre of a controversy over the recent suspension of IAS officer Durga Sakthi Nagpal with allegations that she was penalised for taking on the mining mafia in Gautam Budh Nagar district.
Meanwhile, Akhilesh on Monday reiterated that stern action would be taken against the offenders whenever an incident of illegal mining came to light in the state. "Action has been taken whenever an incident of illegal mining has been reported and we will continue to do so," the CM told reporters on the sidelines of a function in Lucknow.
Stating that his government was committed to bringing transparency in mining, Akhilesh said an effort had been made in that direction by the opening of the e-tendering system.
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