Palwal: Despite ban, illegal mining continues on Yamuna riverbed

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Palwal, February 11

There has been a rise in the practice of illegal mining on the Yamuna riverbed here despite a ban imposed in many parts of the district.

According to sources in the district administration, the prevalent unauthorised mining could be attributed to the alleged weak surveillance and monitoring system ensured by the department concerned. With several incidents being reported each month, a majority of these go unnoticed due to a poor vigil or the connections of the sand mafia, it is alleged.

Last year, the police had registered a total of 11 cases and arrested seven persons, while this year as many as four cases have been registered since January 1. However, sources claim that the actual number of cases of illegal mining in the past one year here could be at least 100, as only a few cases have been reported or registered.

Besides, people involved in such unauthorised practices also often indulge in violent ways of resistance. Last week, two cops were attacked by a mob after a police team had attempted to impound a tractor trailer carrying illegally mined sand near Bamnikhera village. A case had been registered against 10 to 12 persons while one of the accused was apprehended by the officials. It is alleged that truckloads of sand are mined each month in the sensitive areas of Sultanpur, Rahimpur, Gurwari, Thantri, Prahladpur Maholi, Sattugarhi, Baghpur, Rajupur, Doshpur and Murtajabad, where dumps of illegally mined sand were found during raids conducted here.

“The failure to have a regulated and strict system has led to a rise in such activities,” said a former government official on condition of anonymity. He said the ban on illegal mining, which was implemented 11 years ago, has proven to be ineffective. Hundreds of trucks or tractor trailers carrying loads of sand are extracted each month, it is alleged. As the mining and transportation activities are carried out mainly at night, the authorities concerned have failed to keep tabs on them, said a local resident.

In a meeting held last year, the Deputy Commissioner had pulled up the department officials for not taking strict measures to curb the unauthorised mining here. To keep tabs on the illegal activity and submit regular reports regarding the same, the officials were asked to set up checkpoints with the help of police.

State Mining Minister Mool Chand Sharma said efforts were on to keep a proper check on the illegal practice in the district and state.