Sangrur, Aug. 30 -- A major controversy has erupted in Sangrur's Batriana village, where residents have accused the sarpanch and her husband of engaging in illegal mining under the guise of constructing a sewage treatment plant.

The villagers allege that the sarpanch, Baljit Kaur, and her husband, Bindra Singh, have dug up deep pits and sold the excavated soil without obtaining any departmental permissions.

A villager Jasveer Kaur said the deep pits posed serious risk to children and animals, especially in the dark. Another key concern was that if a sewage treatment plant was built in these deep pits, the dirty water will contaminate the village's groundwater.

Lakhveer Singh, another villager, explained that the village's main water su...