Illegal mining rampant in Ravi riverbed in Pathankot

Illegal mining is going on unabated in the riverbed of the Ravi in Bhoa, Pathankot — a development that not only threatens the local ecosystem but also risks altering the river’s natural course, potentially endangering nearby residents.

Pathankot is a mining rich district with Bhoa being the epicentre. This has resulted in a free for all for unscrupulous elements, including middle rung politicians, who care least for the ecological system.

In Saharanpur village, which falls in Bhoa, scores of trucks are ferrying the sand extracted from river Ravi’s riverbed to different cities. Nearly 15 porcelain machines are excavating sand under the guise of the state government’s policy of ‘Jisda Khet, Usdi Ret.’ Under this policy, farmers are allowed to extract and sell sand from their flood-damaged fields without permits to help them recover financially.

In the guise of this policy, people in Saharanpur are actually excavating sand from the river bed of the Ravi.

Extracting sand from river beds is strictly banned in Punjab. Officials admitted that this scheme was being exploited to the hilt by the mining mafia. Illegal mining bypasses regulatory oversight and tax payments, resulting in substantial revenue loss for the government.

Just three days ago, the police had seized three machines from the site in Saharanpur. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against unknown persons under the mines and minerals act (development and regulation), 1957, at the Taragarh police station. The cops are investigating the case.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pallavi said, “We are looking into the matter. If illegal excavation of sand is taking place anywhere in this district, we will act strictly.”

Sources say the police cannot do much if such incidents are brought to their notice as they can act only after the mining department files a complaint with them.

“According to rules, we provide security to mining department officials when they raid a site. An FIR can be registered only if officials of the department make a complaint with us,” said SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon.