Delhi University professor writes to HRD ministry over alleged mining in college

New Delhi: A Delhi University professor has written to HRD Minister Smriti Irani seeking her intervention in the issue of alleged mining and illegal construction activities in ARSD college in south-west Delhi.

"Over 100 trees have been illegally cut in the area without any permission from the concerned authorities.

University officials are blatantly violating rule and directions without an ounce of fear and respect for the law of the land.

"Not only huge funds are being spent for beautification but also natural resources are damaged, looted and used for illegal money-making," Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College Professor Pravat K Basra said in his letter to Irani.

Basra, last month, had approached the police alleging that college officials were involved in illegal mining and construction activities in the area.

Delhi Police had registered a case against unidentified persons under various sections of IPC, Delhi Trees Conservation Act 1994, Mines and Minerals (Regulation of Development Act) 1957.

College Principal GK Jha, however, rubbished the allegations saying there is no mining going on in the campus.

"I do not have information on this. There is no mining going on in college. We are constructing semi-permanent structure. There was levelling on ground but that can't be called mining," he said.

The college was in a row in 2013 over the same issue when the Forest Department had cracked down and stopped the mining operations.

It was also alleged that precious blue and pink stones were quarried away from right inside the campus.

The issue had also found mention in the white paper released by Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) against the previous Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh.