Officials say district has already witnessed sharp decline in illegal activity
Sunil Chadha
Una:
In a decisive move to curb organised crime and rein in criminal and the mining mafia, the Una district administration has implemented a stringent 12-point action plan that has already begun showing visible results on the ground.
Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal, an IAS officer of the 2016 batch of the Himachal Pradesh cadre, is leading the enforcement initiative, which officials describe as “foolproof and outcome-oriented”. The 12-point action plan is learnt to be the brainchild of Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal.
The measures, introduced in close coordination with the Police Department, Mining Wing and Urban Local Bodies, have resulted in a complete halt to illegal mining operations, according to district officials. Several FIRs have been registered for violations and multiple stone crushers have been sealed for non-compliance with norms.
Action after spurt in crime
Una district, which borders Punjab, has been on high alert following a series of bold criminal incidents, including the recent murder of a Congress leader in a shootout on his birthday. The administration’s crackdown is being seen as a direct response to concerns over law and order as well as the unchecked movement of mining vehicles, which had been contributing to accidents and severe road-safety risks.
Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, who belongs to Una and represents Haroli constituency, had recently asked the district authorities to take “all-out action” against criminals.
Officials said the measures have significantly improved traffic flow, reduced night-time disturbances, and enhanced public safety across the district.
Key components of the 12-point plan are:
- Liquor vends to close by 10 pm.
- Ahatas, whether attached to liquor vends or standalone, to shut by 10 pm.
- Bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants serving liquor must also close by 10 pm.
- Complete ban on mining activities from 5 pm to 6 am.
- Mining operations like extraction and loading allowed only between 6 am and 5 pm.
- Transportation of mining material by tippers and trucks permitted only from 10 am to 5 pm.
- Dedicated corridors notified for the movement of mining tippers and machinery through prohibitory orders.
- Guarding of check-posts and mining sites, jointly by mining reserve personnel and police, deployed in a buddy system.
- Complete ban on any activity in and around the Swan riverbeds without a valid licence.
- Ban on movement of tippers and mining machinery within city and NAC limits across the district.
- All arms licence holders directed to deposit their weapons and ammunition at their nearest police station.
- Verification of arms licences underway; those with disputes or adverse reports to face suspension or cancellation through the sub-divisional committee.
DC Jatin Lal stated that the administration is committed to maintaining strict vigilance and ensuring continued enforcement without exception. “The district machinery has been instructed to maintain close coordination to prevent any resurgence of illegal activities,” he said.
