NOIDA: The Uttar Pradesh government has posted a new mining officer in Gautam Budh Nagar district. The post had been lying vacant since July 25 after the former official, Ashish Kumar, was transferred to Bulandshahr. Kumar was allegedly removed from the district three day's prior to IAS Durga Nagpal's suspension.

The new official, Anil Kumar Singh, was earlier posted as mining officer in Bijnore. After Bijnore he had been posted temporarily to Lucknow, but before he could take charge, he was sent to GB Nagar to investigate the illegal sand mining operation in the district.

Singh has served as mining officer in various districts. He was reportedly incharge of the first enforcement cell for illegal sand mining, which was formed in the year 2000.