Illegal mining in Jawali’s Dehar khud with big machines causes soil erosion

Dehar Khud in the Kotla region of Jawali subdivision in Kangra district is considered the lifeline for local residents and farmers in surrounding rural areas. The new mining policy notified by the state government on February 29, 2024, permits excavation on the leased riverbeds with the use of mechanical machinery five metres away from riverbanks but a poclain machine was noticed extracting minerals from the riverbed of the flowing Dehar Khud at Bagga gram panchayat inr Kotla sub-tehsil on last Saturday evening. A video clip of the poclain machine extracting minerals went viral on social media on Sunday, exposing the gross violation of the state mining policy.

Local residents claim that stone crushers, operating as part of an alleged nexus of politicians and government officials, are exploiting the existing mining policy amid lax enforcement by the authorities concerned. The use of poclain machines to extract sand, stones and other materials from the riverbed of the flowing Dehar Khud allegedly exposed serious lapses in surveillance, particularly by the Mining Department, leading to resentment among the local residents and environmentalists.

The residents allege that the ongoing illegal mining with the help of heavy machinery poses a grave threat to natural water resources and the environment. Local environmentalists and social activists, including Aman Rana, MR Sharma, and Bagga panchayat up-pradhan Yogesh Kumar, have demanded a blanket ban on all types of mining activities in Dehar Khud. “In gross violation of environmental norms and court directives, illegal mining in the rivulets and khuds of Kangra district continues unchecked. Heavy machinery is being used to extract sand, gravel and boulders from the water bodies,” they lament.

Environmental experts warn that indiscriminate excavation of minerals from water bodies is altering their natural courses, destabilising embankments and accelerating soil erosion. The deepening of riverbeds due to the use of heavy machinery threatens nearby agricultural land, drinking water sources and rural infrastructure, including bridges and roads. Mining activities reportedly intensify during late-night hours and trucks can be seen ferrying illegally-extracted material from Dehar, Chakki and Chhonchh khuds as well as the Beas in the lower Kangra region.

Known for its fragile hill ecology and dependence on river-based resources, Kangra faces long-term environmental consequences if illegal mining continues unabated. The environmentalists issue a caution that continued riverbed excavation can increase the risk of floods and lead to irreversible ecological imbalance. The continued use of poclain machines has raised serious questions about the monitoring and enforcement of the Mines and Minerals Act.

Sources in the state Mining Department say that under the Mining Policy-2024, the excavation of minerals with the help of mechanical machinery has been permitted in riverbed areas up to two metres deep while in the terrace land of a river, digging is allowed up to 3 metres. No mining activity is allowed within 75 metres of soil conservation works.

SP, Nurpur, Kulbhushan Verma says that the police have seized several machines, tippers and tractor-trailers and imposed heavy penalties on the violators. He adds that the police will intensify their drive against illegal mining in the Kotla region under the jurisdiction of Jawali police station.