Ensure no illegal mining at Chakki riverbed in Nurpur, Indora: NGT

After receiving the preliminary status report submitted by the Joint Committee on December 8, the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Delhi, has ordered the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, the Director, Mining Department, and district police authorities to ensure that no illegal riverbed mining was carried out alongside Chakki river in Kandwal-Lodwan-Tipri belt on interstate Nurpur and Indora sub divisions in Kangra district.

The NGT had constituted a joint committee comprising DC Kangra, regional officer, Himachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board, Dharamsala and scientist, regional director, central pollution control board, Chandigarh, as its members after entertaining a petition (complaint) by one Sanjeev Dogra on November 7. The petitioner in his complaint alleged illegal mining being carried out alongside the Chakki river in the Kandwal-Lodhwan-Tipri area which runs parallel to the Punjab border. He also alleged that the illegal mining activities were disrupting the river’s ecology, harming the surrounding flora and fauna.

The NGT has granted eight weeks’ time to the joint committee to submit its final report. The case has been listed on March 20 next year for further consideration. In the interim report submitted to the NGT, the subcommittee has observed the signs of unscientific riverbed mining exceeding the prescribed riverbed digging of two meters at several locations along the Chakki River.

While submitting data of the last five years of police cases and challans of mining in Chakki river, the subcommittee has observed unscientific mining of riverbed. It also stated that area being interstate boundary was always in dispute and district administration had taken up the issue of demarcation of boundaries of Chakki river with the Punjab government in the past but the issue was still pending.

The committee has also attached a number of photographs reflecting alleged illegal mining of Chakki riverbed with its preliminary status report submitted to the NGT. The subcommittee, in its status report, has also stated about the changes in Chakki river course and depth of river bed more than 5-6 meters or more in certain locations.

The official sources revealed that the committee would inspect the whole riverbed thoroughly, conduct a survey report and identify the soil erosion being caused either by the illegal mining or flash floods in the river. The committee will also visit every stone crusher and prepare a factual report to be submitted to the NGT within next eight weeks.

The status interim report has been prepared after carrying out inspection of three sites in the Kandwal-Lodhwan-Tipri area identified by the complainant in his petition to the NGT.