Cops dismantle illegal mining route along HP-Punjab border

In a decisive move against the mining mafia operating in the interstate border area of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, the Nurpur police district, in collaboration with the Indo-Tibet Border Police (ITBP), launched a special drive under Fatehpur police station. During this operation, an illegal kutcha road built by the mafia to transport minerals from the Beas and government land in Tatwali gram panchayat was dismantled. The illegal road, connecting Himachal Pradesh with Punjab, was used to supply raw materials for stone crushers in Punjab.

Following Punjab’s ban on mining activities, the mafia shifted operations to border areas like Nurpur, Fatehpur and Indora in Himachal Pradesh, exploiting lax oversight by the Mining Department. Reports indicate that some local residents have been aiding the mafia by allowing extraction of minerals from their private lands, further exacerbating the problem.

The illegal path under the Shah Canal aqueduct at RD 4740, earlier closed by local administration using crates, was restored by the mafia. Acting on a tip-off, the Nurpur police dismantled the passage using a JCB machine. Fatehpur SDM Vishrut Bharti emphasised that the Shah Canal project authorities have been instructed to file FIRs against any attempt to reopen the blocked route.

Nurpur SP Ashok Ratan revealed that a special drive had been launched to curb illegal mining in the border areas, urging community involvement to tackle the menace. Residents were exhorted to remain vigilant and report illegal activities to the police. To raise awareness, a flag march was conducted in affected areas, and illegal mining hotspots near the Beas River

were identified.

Environmentalist MR Sharma, active in the lower Kangra area, lauded the police action. He highlighted the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining, including deep trenches on riverbeds, and the substantial revenue loss to the state exchequer. Sharma called for stricter enforcement to prevent further destruction of natural resources.

This crackdown sends a strong message to the mining mafia, signaling that such illegal activities will not be tolerated. However, long-term solutions, including stringent monitoring and community participation, are essential to curbing illegal mining and preserving the region’s ecological balance.