Villagers protest illegal mining in Neugal river
Residents of Purba village staged a protest against illegal mining in the Neugal river near Mundi village, highlighting its environmental and economic impacts. A large group of men and women submitted a memorandum to the Dheera SDM, urging immediate action to halt the activities. They reported that a stone crusher owner, allegedly using heavy machinery like JCBs and poclain machines, was extracting sand and stones in violation of regulations. Deep trenches have been dug in the river, worsening the situation.
Despite a complete ban on mining in the Neugal river, illegal operations continue unabated. Machinery has been seen working round the clock, with local authorities failing to take effective action. SDM Salem Aajam has directed the police and Mining Department to intervene, but mining persists as of this report.
According to villagers, the stone crusher owner, allegedly connected to a Congress leader, does not possess a valid lease. Complaints to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Industry Minister have yielded no results. The local tehsildar’s office confirmed the absence of legal permits, further exposing the scale of the violations.
Illegal mining has caused significant environmental damage, including deforestation, landslides, and flash floods, affecting over 20,000 hectares of land in Palampur and surrounding areas. The reshaping of the landscape has disrupted local ecosystems and posed threats to infrastructure, including irrigation and drinking water schemes. Villages relying on irrigation channels in the catchments of Neugal, Mol, and Binwa rivers face the risk of losing their water sources.
The mining has also endangered village roads, cremation grounds, and footpaths, impacting over 100 panchayats and 200 villages in Palampur, Bhawarna, Daroh, and Baijnath blocks. The illegal trade, reportedly supported by political leaders, deprives the state of crores in royalties annually.
The issue has drawn the attention of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which has taken suo motu cognizance of a news report on November 2, 2024, treating it as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The Chief Secretary and the Kangra DC have been directed to file a status report.
Villagers demand urgent action to curb illegal mining and protect the environment. They hope the intervention of the judiciary will ensure accountability and bring relief to the affected areas.
