Decision to lease land for mining flayed

Palampur, January 20

Residents of the Kona area of Dheera subdivision (Palampur) have lodged a protest against the decision of the state government to lease a part of land falling in their panchayat for mining activities and grant permission for a stone crusher unit.

Kona panchayat passed a resolution opposing the decision and later submitted a memorandum to SDM, Dheera, Ashish Sharma, who is also the chairman of an inspection committee, requesting him that no stone crusher unit should come up in their area.

In the memorandum, the panchayat said there was already a ban on mining in the Neugal river so it would be illegal to allow mining. Besides, as per law, no land could be leased without public hearing.

Villagers said mining would result in large-scale environmental degradation besides causing damage to village roads, water channels, cremation ground, local paths, water supply schemes and bridges.

The people assembled on the Palampur-Hamirpur highway near Thural to lodge their protest and threatened to hold a dharna if the government moved ahead with the decision. They also requested local MLA Vipin Singh Parmar to intervene in the matter.

The SDM said the memorandum would be forwarded to the higher authorities. The NGT had banned mining in the river three years ago. Besides, the High Court had also directed the government that no land should be leased without public auction. — OC

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