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UP Cracks Down on Illegal Mining: ₹3.75 Crore Fine, Officials Suspended

The Rampur district administration has imposed a hefty ₹3.75 crore fine on Gabar Construction Company for illegal soil excavation during a National Highway project. District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi confirmed the fine and the registration of a case under the Environmental Protection Act. In connection with the case, a Patwari and a Kanungo have been suspended by the authorities. To curb illegal mining, the administration has established over 10 checkpoints, inspecting up to 1,500 vehicles daily, and uses CCTV surveillance from a central control room.

Key Points: UP Rampur Fines Firm ₹3.75 Cr, Suspends Officials in Mining Case

  • ₹3.75 crore fine imposed
  • Patwari and Kanungo suspended
  • Case under Environmental Protection Act
  • Over 10 checkpoints set up
  • Daily inspection of 1200-1500 vehicles
2 min read

Uttar Pradesh: Rampur DM suspends Patwari, Kanungo in illegal mining case; ₹3.75 cr fine imposed

Rampur DM suspends Patwari & Kanungo, imposes ₹3.75 crore fine on construction company for illegal mining during NH project. EPA case filed.

"A fine of ₹3.75 crore has been imposed, and a case has also been registered under the Environmental Protection Act. - District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi"

Rampur, January 11

The district administration in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur has taken strict action against illegal mining that was ongoing during National Highway construction, imposing a fine of ₹3.75 crore against a construction company.

A case has been registered under the Environmental Protection Act, District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi told ANI.

An investigation revealed that the "Gabar Construction Company" allegedly violated the prescribed terms by carrying out soil excavation at an unauthorised location and beyond the permitted depth, he said.

DM Ajay Kumar Dwivedi said, "In Rampur, construction of a National Highway is underway, for which Gabar Construction Company was appointed for the supply of soil. During the investigation, the company was found to have violated the permit conditions. Therefore, a fine of ₹3.75 crore has been imposed, and a case has also been registered under the Environmental Protection Act. Patwari, Kanungo are suspended in connection with the case."

Regarding the case, DM Dwivedi said that more than 10 checkpoints have been set up across the district to curb illegal mining activities. Vehicles transporting mining materials are being thoroughly checked for valid mining permits, transport documents and registration numbers, he said.

He added that authorities are also verifying whether vehicles are overloaded. On average, around 1,200 to 1,500 vehicles are inspected daily, and strict action is taken against those found violating the rules, the DM said.

The District Magistrate further stated that CCTV cameras have been installed at all checkpoints and that a central control room has been established for continuous monitoring to ensure proper functioning.

More than 250 officers have been deployed for the operation. The officers work in two shifts from 8 PM to 8 AM, and a new officer is assigned to each checkpoint every day to ensure transparency and prevent repetition, he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good move by the DM. The details about 10 checkpoints and daily inspections of 1200-1500 vehicles sound impressive. Hope this is implemented properly and not just for show. Our rivers and farmland have suffered enough from illegal soil and sand mining. 🙏
R
Rohit P
Suspending the ground-level officials is fine, but what about the bigger fish? The construction company bosses and the politicians who protect them? The fine is big, but the profit from illegal mining is often bigger. This feels like treating the symptom, not the disease.
A
Ananya R
The use of CCTV and a central control room is a smart, tech-driven approach. Rotating officers daily to prevent collusion is also a good idea. If this model works in Rampur, it should be replicated in all mining-affected districts. Our natural resources need protection.
S
Sarah B
While the action seems strong, I hope it's sustained. Often we see a crackdown for a few weeks when the news is fresh, and then everything goes back to normal. Deploying 250 officers is a significant resource commitment. The public should be able to see the monitoring data to ensure it continues.
K
Karthik V
This is about the National Highway project. If the contractor is cutting corners and stealing soil illegally, what about the quality of the road itself? This raises bigger questions about oversight in infrastructure projects. The fine money should be used for environmental restoration in Rampur.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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