Crackdown on mining mafia: Forest Department destroys six illegal roads
Continuing the crackdown on the mining mafia in Sulaha, Thural and Baijnath areas, the Forest Department has launched a massive operation in the areas.
The department has destroyed half a dozen illegal roads (escape routes) constructed by the mining mafia on forested land. These roads led to illegal mining sites on the riverbeds of Neugal, Binwa and other tributaries of Beas.
JCB machines were pressed into service by the department to destroy the roads, with a senior officer supervising the operation.
Since all these rivers are major sources of drinking water in the area, the NGT and the state government had imposed a complete ban on mining here.
However, the mafia was active, seemingly with the “blessings” of local politicians.
Earlier, various NGOs working for the protection of the environment had protested against the illegal mining in Neugal and Binwa rivers, which had damaged local paths, electric installations, water channels, roads and cremation grounds. A video of illegal mining in the river had recently made rounds on social media.
Palampur Divisional Forest Officer Sanjiv Sharma, while talking to The Tribune here today, said the department would not allow the misuse of forested land for illegal purposes. The mining mafia had wreaked havoc with nature, which was a matter of concern, he added.
The mafia had dug deep trenches in forested land along the rivers to extract sand and stones, he said, adding that the police and the Mining Department should cooperate with his teams to deal with the mafia, which had posed a threat to the environment, and public property. He said the crackdown against the mafia would continue.
Residents of Sulaha and Thural welcomed the action of the department.
Some said illegal mining was not only resulting in environmental degradation in the area, but was also causing revenue losses to the state exchequer amounting to crores of rupees every year, as the mined material was being lifted without paying royalties to the government.
