Illegal miners at it again in Mohali

Ishrat S Banwait
Tribune News Service
Mohali, October 10

Days after the blanket ban on mining ended due to the monsoon, fresh evidence of illegal mining has emerged on the periphery. Illegal miners have once again taken to the already ravaged villages of Khizrabad and Miyanpur. Fresh digging can be seen in higher reaches of these villages near the river bed. Fresh tyre marks are also visible in the area.

The authorities have failed to act despite the fact that local residents have approached them multiple times. The mining mafia in the area is strong and officials have been attacked in the past. Villagers, who now speak only on condition of anonymity, claim that officials are hand in glove with the miners.

The villagers say every time a report appears in the media, the authorities take a round of the area and mining stops for a day or two. However, the miners return and start digging again. The illegal mining takes place generally at night.

Mohali Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra said, “I will get it checked; teams have been told time and again to keep a check on illegal mining and report about it. However, I have not received any report till date”.

In June this year, residents of Khadri Dumbla village near Miyanpur had intercepted tippers loaded with sand. They called the police and forest officials, who let them go later saying that they had the required documents.

The same month, forest officials were attacked by miners after they were intercepted. One of the officials was critically injured and is still recovering. However, the authorities have failed to check the practice, which continues to ruin the landscape of the region.