‘Illegal’ bridges come up on Yamuna to aid sand mining; green warriors see red

Temporary bridges have been built on the Yamuna around Palwal in Haryana so that sand miners can get even closer to the riverbed, leaving local residents irate and environmentalists fuming.The “illegal” bridges, which have reportedly come up without official approval or environment clearance, are being used by illegal miners to carry equipment deep into the river to excavate sand and transport it.

Contracts for sand mining have been awarded in Palwal, but local sarpanches and environmentalists say none of the contractors has allegedly obtained environmental clearance.

Villagers have approached state minister and Palwal MLA Gaurav Gautam to apprise him of their concerns regarding law and order and the threat from the mining mafia. Gautam said the government had zero tolerance to illegal mining and the issue would be looked into and an investigation conducted on-the-spot.

A representation has been sent to the CM seeking an inquiry into the matter. It seeks to highlight the manner in which these illegal bridges have been built and are used by miners to extract sand as well as the impact it will have on the course of the Yamuna and its fragile ecosystem.

Opposition leaders have decided to up the ante, especially in light of the BJP last year making the Yamuna the centrepiece of its political campaign in the fight for nearby Delhi.

“The BJP government’s hypocrisy stands exposed. It talks about saving the Yamuna but is killing it in connivance with sand miners. Who allowed these bridges to be built? How come no official, minister or BJP leader sees this despite many complaints? The CM visited Palwal but had nothing to say about sand mining, a key issue here,” said former Haryana minister and Congress leader Karan Dalal.

Dalal has demanded that the permissions granted for sand mining be reviewed.

“On the one hand, Haryana seeks to revive lost ecosystems with projects like Green Wall and on the other, this is what is happening on the ground. The mining in the Yamuna, which ‘is being legalised now’, will not just kill the river but will also destroy villages along its banks. The government needs to review the issue,” said Jatinder Bhadana of the Save Aravalli Trust.

“Around 15 groups are operating here. Some have got contracts, others haven’t. A turf war is already on and we have daily scuffles. We fear that soon it will turn into armed wars and we will face what many crusher towns in Rajasthan already have. We have approached the MLA,” said a local sarpanch.