Yamunanagar dist divided into 5 zones to check illegal mining

The Mines and Geology Department has divided the district into five zones to stop illegal mining effectively. Mining guards and other officials have been deputed in every zone to intensify checking.

According to information, the areas of Zone I includes Kalesar, Hathnikund, Pratap Nagar, Tajewala, Bailgarh, Bibipur, Buria, Jagadhri, Chhachhrauli, Ledi, Darpur, Yamuna river and border with Himachal Pradesh.

The areas of Nagli, Darpur, Ledi road, Chhachhrauli, Jagadhri, Bilaspur, Bhagwanpur and border with Himachal have been included in Zone II, while Zone III includes areas of Bhagwanpur, Bilaspur, Jagadhri, Sabalpur, border with Himachal, and Ambala district.

Zone IV includes areas of Buria, Bibipur, Kalanaur, Tapu Kamalpur, Naharpur, Dhanaura, Radaur, Dhaurang, Damla, Yamunanagar, Yamuna river and boundary with Karnal district.

The areas of Damla, Dhaurang, Radaur, Buria, Jagadhri, Sabalpur and boundary with Kurukshetra and Ambala districts constitute Zone V.

As per an order passed by Chandar Bhushan Tiwari, Assistant Mining Engineer, Yamunanagar district, there are 32 legal mining blocks (mining quarries) in the district. But at present, only five mining blocks are operational and the remaining are non-functional, as they are suspended or expired.

Sources said the Yamuna was a big source of illegal mining and most stone crushers and screening plants were situated in the area, including Devdhar, Ballewala, Doiwala, Bhud Majra and Belgarh villages.

Besides, illegal mining was allegedly carried out in seasonal rivulets situated in other parts of the district, and in agricultural fields with the consent of landowners/farmers.

Tiwari said they were facing a major problem in the Bailgarh area, therefore, they had decided to depute extra workforce to check illegal mining. “All field staff members have been asked to keep an eye on their assigned areas to stop illegal mining activities,” he added.