Jalandhar: Conduct an aerial survey of illegal mining, Congress leader Lalli tells CM.

Jalandhar: Ahead of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s visit to Sri Khuralgarh Sahib for the state-level 649th Prakash Parv of Guru Ravidas, Congress leader Amarpreet Lalli from Garhshankar has demanded that the CM conduct an aerial survey of the illegal mining taking place in the area before landing his helicopter at the holy site. Lalli said, “Media reports have already highlighted the illegal cutting of the Shivalik hills using JCB machines for extracting soil and stones. This large-scale, indiscriminate mining can cause severe environmental imbalance in the area. Forests have been destroyed, and the hills have been cut so brazenly that some have been reduced to ground level.” The Congress leader, who visited the site today, said, “We hope that when CM Mann visits Khuralgarh, he will conduct an aerial survey of the area for a few minutes and immediately stop the work. He should instruct the authorities to take immediate action so that no further damage is done to the environment by some unscrupulous elements.
Since Minister Harjot Bains is also visiting the holy site, and it is his constituency that is most affected, we expect him to take action as well.” When asked about AAP leaders blaming Congress leaders for the illegal mining, he said, “I challenge them to arrest all those involved in any such illegal activity. If these were Congress leaders, do you think the AAP would let them continue this work? This is just a ploy by AAP leaders to evade responsibility for the illegal activities.” Meanwhile, BJP leader Nimisha Mehta from Garhshankar is also assuring devotees that she will take them to Varanasi on special trains run by the central government before the 650th Prakash Parv of Guru Ravidas next year. The AAP is organizing an Akhand Path near the 151-foot-tall Minar-e-Begumpura, which will conclude tomorrow. The devotees also hope that the CM will make some announcements before Guru Ravidas Jayanti next year and make this event even bigger than the Prime Minister’s recent visit.