21 vehicles seized for illegal sand mining in Yamunanagar

In a major crackdown on the mining mafia, the Mines and Geology Department, Yamunanagar, has seized 21 vehicles allegedly involved in illegal mining and unauthorised transportation of mining minerals.

According to officials, these vehicles were intercepted by teams of the Haryana State Enforcement Bureau from Pobari village in Yamunanagar district, where they were reportedly stealing sand from the Yamuna.

The seizure orders were issued by Dr Rajesh Kumar, Assistant Mining Engineer, Mines and Geology Department, Yamunanagar.

Giving details, Mining Inspector Rohit Singh Rana said the department would recover the fine, royalty and the price of the mineral loaded in the seized vehicles. “The department will also recover environmental compensation as per the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued on April 23, 2019 and February 19, 2020,” he added.

Rana further said the department had intensified vigil across the district to curb illegal mining activities. “Under the guidance of Assistant Mining Engineer Dr Rajesh Kumar, teams of the mining department are working round the clock to stop illegal mining in the district,” he said.

Officials said the department’s ongoing operations are part of a broader drive to ensure environmental compliance and safeguard natural resources. Several teams have been conducting surprise checks at riverbeds, stockyards and routes commonly used for unauthorised transportation of sand and other minerals.

Authorities maintained that the illegal extraction of sand not only causes heavy revenue loss to the state exchequer but also leads to severe environmental degradation, including erosion of riverbanks and loss of aquatic biodiversity.

The department is also coordinating with local police and enforcement agencies to track habitual offenders and impound machinery and vehicles used in illegal excavation. Officials hinted that more seizures and penal actions could follow in the coming days as surveillance intensifies.