Sutlej to Neugal: Sand mining mafia unchecked
The Tribune Editorial: Mining mafias thrive where institutions fail. It is time to reclaim rivers not just from sand diggers, but also from systemic negligence.
Updated At : 07:08 AM Jul 21, 2025 IST
THE alarming persistence of illegal mining along the Sutlej in Punjab and in the Palampur region of Himachal Pradesh underscores a glaring governance deficit that is wreaking havoc on the environment, local infrastructure and people’s lives. Despite periodic bans and administrative directives, the illegal extraction of sand and other minerals continues unabated, facilitated by a nexus of political patronage, local complicity and institutional apathy.
