Despite ban, illegal mining goes on in Neugal river

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, February 4

Despite the HP High Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on illegal mining in the Neugal river, the menace continues unabated in the area. At least 100 potable water supply schemes are connected to the river.

Sources said police and administrative officials were aware of the fact, but nothing had been done so far as those involved in the illegal practice enjoy “political patronage”.

SSP, Una, Sanjiv Gandhi, was transferred to a battalion at Junga last month for acting tough against the mining mafia. More than 50 vehicles were impounded during his tenure, they said.

In the absence of any check, a number of tractor-trailers could be seen extracting sand stone and mining material from the river between Palampur and Alampur.

According to information, the mining exercise in the Neugal river was earlier under the control of the police and the Mining Department. However, the Himachal Pradesh High Court and the NGT later imposed a complete ban on the practice in the Neugal khud and other tributaries of the Beas in Palampur. A massive crackdown was launched against the mining mafia and those involved in the illegal practice were booked. Roads leading to the Neugal river in Palampur and Sulaha were also dismantled by the police and officials of the Mining and Forest Departments, but these were re-constructed by the mining mafia.

A senior police official said they had re-launched a crackdown against illegal mining. More than 10 vehicles had been impounded in the past one month. Roads leading to the river had also been dismantled. Meanwhile, People’s Voice, a local NGO, today sought the High Court’s intervention in this regard.

Neelam Sood and KB Rahlan, convener and co-convener, respectively, said they would move the court again after winter vacation.