Haryana: Illegal mining a big ‘threat’ to Yamuna ecosystem, says Parliamentary panel

Neeraj Mohan

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New Delhi, February 7

Illegal sand mining in the Yamuna in state has emerged as a significant concern, posing a threat to the river’s ecosystem and exacerbating environmental degradation, reveals a report from the parliamentary standing committee shedding light on the severity of the issue.

3,792 cases reported in five years

• The report discloses a staggering total of 3,792 cases of illegal mining reported in the five years across five districts in Haryana through which the Yamuna flows
• Yamunanagar district, which has nearly a 100 km stretch of the river, tops the list with a shocking 2,599 cases, followed by Palwal with 559, Sonepat with 281, Karnal with 202, and Panipat with 151 reported cases in the five years
• The extent of the problem becomes even clearer when considering the financial penalties imposed, with Yamunanagar alone accounting for the highest recovery of Rs 21.22 crore

According to the 27th report of the parliamentary standing committee, titled “Review of Upper Yamuna River Cleaning Projects Up to Delhi and River Bed Management in Delhi”, illegal mining activities have been rampant across various districts in the state. The stretch of the Yamuna in Haryana is about 224 km from Hathnikund to Palla.

The identified polluted stretch from Panipat to Sonepat adds another layer to the environmental challenge posed by unchecked mining activities. The alterations in the riverbed caused by excessive sand mining impact the natural course of the river and contribute to bank erosion, reveals the report.

According to the committee, the state government in its reply said it has taken stringent measures against those involved in illegal mining, resulting in a substantial revenue of Rs 33.63 crore collected through penalties. This revenue, however, highlights the magnitude of the issue, as the financial gains from illegal mining continue to drive unauthorised activities that harm the river’s ecosystem.

The parliamentary committee urges a comprehensive approach to address the broader concern, emphasising that information related to sand mining should be collated from all states within the Yamuna basin. The report stresses the need for coordinated efforts among these states to prevent illegal mining activities in the floodplains of the Yamuna.

In response to these challenges, the state has implemented measures to curb illegal sand mining. District-level taskforces, led by Deputy Commissioners with the involvement of senior functionaries, have been established in each district concerned. These taskforces actively monitor and take swift actions against instances of illegal mining.

A higher-level taskforce, chaired by the Chief Secretary of Haryana, reviews the actions taken by the district-level taskforces.