Environmentalists oppose use of heavy machinery by stone crushers

Palampur, April 11

Various environmental groups of the Kangra valley have criticised the decision of the state government to grant permission to stone crushers for using heavy machinery.

The state government recently allowed three owners from Jaisinghpur to use 80 HP loaders in their stone crushers. Besides, three other similar applications are in the pipeline for approval.

Environmentalists here have urged Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to intervene and withdraw government’s decision. They have been raising concern over alleged illegal mining in the rivers and rivulets of the Kangra valley like the Beas and Neugal rivers and Mandh and Mol khuds.

Information gathered revealed that the Himachal Pradesh Mining Policy-2015 prohibits the use of heavy machineries like loaders, JCB machines and earth movers for the extraction of stone and sand from state rivers. The NGT and High Court had also banned the use of heavy machinery for extraction of stones, sand and other minerals from the rivers in the state.

However, the Mining Department claims the permission was granted as per the directions of the state government issued in 2022 when it amended the rules.

Meanwhile, during a visit to various stone crushers in Jaisinghpur, it was seen that the owners of the stone crushers were not only using loaders in the stone crushers but have also pressed JCB machines for the extraction of stones from the Beas river and other rivulets, which is a violation of the HP State Mining Rules-2015.

District Mining Officer Rajiv Kalia said the permission for the use of heavy machinery (loaders only) had been granted to three crushers so far, while applications for three other stone crushers were pending with the state government. He said he had followed the directions of the state government notified in the year 2022, for granting such permissions, and therefore done nothing illegal.

Jaisinghpur SDM Sanjiv Thakur said he had also noticed the use of heavy machinery by some stone crushers operational in Jaisinghpur. He added, “When I enquired, one of the owners of the stone crushers provided him a copy of permission recently granted by the government.”

He said if the Mining Officer had given permission for the use of loaders in the stone crushers, he should also implement the other terms and conditions laid down in the letter. “Several stone crushers can be seen using heavy machinery other than loaders as well in Jaisinghpur. I will take up the matter with the top brass and appropriate action will be taken,” said the SDM.

Implement other terms too: SDM

If the Mining Officer has given permission for the use of loaders at the stone crushers, he should also implement other terms laid down in the letter. Stone crushers can be seen using heavy machinery other than loaders at Jaisinghpur. Sanjiv Thakur, SDM, Jaisinghpur