Mining mafia back to work in Yamuna riverbed

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, May 18

After one and a half months, the mafia has restarted illegal mining in the Yamuna riverbed at Tajewala village in Yamunanagar district.

Haridev Kamboj, Executive Engineer, Water Services Division, Dadupur, had written to the district mining officer, Yamunanagar, on May 16, requesting him to keep a check on the unlawful activity.

“With the efforts of irrigation and other departments, illegal mining has ceased for about one and a half months on the other side of the Yamuna at Tajewala village. But the mafia has again started mining in the Yamuna riverbed. Therefore, you (district mining officer) are requested to stop the illegal activity,” reads the letter.

The mining mafia has already damaged a large portion of the 19,600-feet right lower downstream embankment of the Yamuna at Tajewala village by carrying out massive illegal mining.

Excessive illegal mining on the right side of the embankment in agriculture fields has led to the possibility of damage to the Hathnikund barrage, about 3.5 km upstream of the old Tajewala headworks, and wreaking havoc in the area.

According to the letter, the mining mafia has again started illegal mining in the Yamuna riverbed on the left side of the embankment. “We have also written to the Pratap Nagar police station SHO to lodge an FIR against those involved in illegal mining at Tajewala village,” said Kamboj.