Palampur, December 15
Though the state Mining Department has cancelled lease agreements of contractors for 12 rivers and local khuds in the Palampur region, large-scale illegal mining is going on unchecked, causing environmental degradation. Illegal mining and quarrying are not only creating environmental imbalances but also causing huge losses to the state exchequer in the form of royalty to the tune of crores of rupees every year.
Illegal mining has also posed a serious threat to the existence of several irrigation and drinking water supply schemes, local paths, village roads, bridges and cremation grounds in the region. The existence of 12 bridges on state, and national highways and the railway line is in danger because of continuous mining on riverbeds, damaging their foundations.
Illegal and unscientific mining and quarrying in the Kangra valley and other parts of the state has also resulted in large-scale deforestation, landslides and flash floods. Over 25,000 hectares have been affected by mining, quarrying and other activities, resulting in drastic reshaping of the landscape.
The issue relating to illegal mining in the Kangra valley is already under the scanner of various courts and the National Green Tribunal. Government agencies, on their part, have become mute spectators and allowed the mafia to flourish and extract stones and sand from rivers and rivulets.
The Awa, Binwa and Neugal rivers in Palampur are being exploited by the mining mafia, which has been abstracting mining material in broad daylight without any hesitation despite the fact that their lease agreements with the state government had been cancelled.
Significantly, persons involved in the illegal trade have no legal rights to extract sand, stone, ''bajri'' and other raw material from these khuds and quarries. However, the mining mafia has flourished with the blessings of political leaders.
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