The Mining Department has slapped a penalty of over Rs 80 crore on stone crusher owners, who have allegedly been found involved in illegal mining since January last year.
After giving a chance of hearing to offenders in 63 cases, the department has asked them to deposit the fine amounting to Rs 42 crore immediately or their assets would be seized by the authorities.
Interestingly, several stone crusher owners have been issued multiple notices for illegal mining for repeated offences. A road construction company has also been issued six notices for lifting the soil more than the authorised quantity.
