PM asks govt to stop illegal mining at Jakh Pant village

BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the state government to take steps to stop illegal mining going on in Jakh Pant village near Pithoragarh town. The Prime Minister took cognisance of a letter written to him by villagers seeking his help in stopping illegal mining in their village.

The Prime Minister’s office has written to the Principal Secretary, Mines and Industries, Uttarakhand, to take action to save the village from rampant illegal mining that is destroying natural drinking water resources, forests and land. “We had requested the Prime Minister for his intervention to save the village from a catastrophe likely to be caused due to rampant mining. The district administration and the state government have failed to stop illegal mining in the village,” says Devendra Pant, a social worker.

Pant says villagers had held several demonstrations against illegal mining in the village and also passed a resolution against it. Illegal mining has rendered the fertile land of the village barren. “While fertile land in the village has become barren, the administration has failed to act against illegal miners. We will start an indefinite agitation if the Prime Minister’s letter also fails to move the government to stop illegal mining in our village,” he adds.

“Ten other villages in the vicinity are supporting us. Jakh Pant village is a natural catchment region of the drinking water resources and need to saved at all costs,” says Pant.