Congress leaders took up illegal mining, drug abuse with Rahul Gandhi

Lalit Mohan

Dharamsala, January 19

Congress leaders, including former minister Asha Kumari and Fatehpur (Kangra) MLA Bhawani Singh Pathania, discussed issues of illegal mining and drug abuse in Himachal Pradesh with Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra yesterday.

Sources said that Asha told Rahul that the number of legislators having direct interest in mining business in Himachal was increasing. She briefed him about the impact of illegal mining on the ecology and environment in Himachal.

Asha said that she briefed Rahul about the impact of illegal mining on the lives of the people of Himachal. “Illegal mining is rampant in border areas of Chamba and Kangra. Many bridges like the road and railway bridges over the Chakki river had been damaged due to illegal mining. In Chamba, many areas had faced massive landslides due to illegal mining, she added.

Asha said that besides illegal mining, she briefed Rahul about unscientific cutting of hills in Chamba district due to which many villages face the threat of subsidence. Rahul asked Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu to take tough measures against illegal and unscientific mining, she claimed. She said that it was a matter of concern that “lawbreakers are becoming lawmakers”.

Pathania said that he briefed Rahul about the rising menace of drug abuse among youth in the border areas of Kangra district. The cases of peddling of synthetic drugs in the state, especially in border areas along Punjab, had increased.

Rahul gave them a patient hearing. He expressed faith in Sukhu’s leadership and endorsed steps taken for the implementation of the old pension scheme (OPS).