Palampur: Forest Dept takes down illegal mining roads

In a major crackdown, the Forest Department launched a decisive operation against the mining mafia in the Sulaha area of Palampur on Thursday evening, dismantling several illegal roads that had been carved through forest land to access the Neugal riverbed, a vital tributary of the Beas.

Heavy machinery, including JCBs, was deployed to tear down these unlawful passages under the direct supervision of senior forest officials. The action was taken after repeated reports that the mafia, operating with alleged political backing, had been exploiting the river in defiance of a complete ban imposed by the state government and the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The Neugal river is a crucial source of drinking water in the region, making the unchecked mining all the more alarming.

Local NGOs had long raised the red flag, pointing out how illegal mining was damaging public utilities, village paths, cremation grounds, water channels and even electric installations. Their fears were validated when disturbing videos of mining in the riverbed went viral on social media, sparking outrage.

Sanjiv Sharma, Divisional Forest Officer, Palampur, told The Tribune that misuse of forest land for illegal mining would not be tolerated. “The mafia has left behind deep trenches in the forest and ravaged green cover. The police and the Mining Department need to join forces with us to tackle this menace effectively,” he said, adding that the crackdown would continue.

Residents of Sulaha and Thural expressed relief, hailing the Forest Department’s bold move. They noted that apart from environmental destruction, the illegal trade was depriving the state exchequer of revenue worth crores annually since no royalty was being paid on the material lifted.

For now, the Neugal river and its forests have found some reprieve. But the battle against the mafia is far from over.