Farm tractors being used to carry mining material

Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR, October 15

The misuse of tractor-trailers in Jaisinghpur has given a rise to illegal mining.

Though the state government has restricted the use of tractors for agricultural purposes only, a large number of tractors are engaged in illegal mining, quarrying, extraction of sand stones, transporting quarrying material not only in Jaisinghpur but other parts of Palampur region also.

Information gathered by The Tribune revealed that there were over 5,000 tractors in Kangra district registered for agricultural purposes, but over 70 per cent were put to commercial use and most of these did not carry even complete documents. The Mining Department did little to take action against their owners.

As per law, a tractor, registered for agricultural purposes, cannot be used for commercial purposes. If found, the authorities can impose a fine.

But there is none in the administration to implement the legal provisions.

On the 15-kilometre stretch of the Beas between Alampur and Jaisinghpur, the state government has prohibited quarrying and mining, but the ban is only on the paper. Neither the department nor administration check the illegal mining, which has resulted in a large-scale damage to environment, forest lands, irrigation channels, power supply lines and drinking water supply schemes.

Vikas Dhiman, DSP, Palampur, said to check the menace, the government had now specified lemon color for all tractor-trailers involved in agricultural purposes. The transport authorities had also been directed not to pass any tractor trailer unless it was painted lemon.“Besides, a person having 10 hectares of agriculture land can only buy a tractor,” he added.

What law says

• A tractor, registered for agricultural purposes, cannot be used for commercial purposes. If found, the authorities can impose a fine. 
• There are over 5,000 tractors in Kangra district registered for agricultural purposes, but over 70 per cent are put to commercial use