Illegal mining on Beas banks threat to ecology
Tribune News Service
Mandi, October 13
Rampant illegal mining on the banks of the Beas, Manali onwards towards Bajaura in Kullu district is posing a threat to the ecology of the area. Though the district police and the Mining Department have challened the offenders, they are fearlessly looting natural resources under the nose of the district administration.
On a tip-off, the police conducted a raid on the banks of the Beas, near Bhunter, yesterday and found 10 tractors being used in illegal mining parked there. Kullu SP Gaurav Singh said that a police team carried out raids and issued 10 challans for illegal mining and imposed a fine of Rs 40,500. “The police are keeping a close watch on illegal miners in Kullu district and taking action according to the law,” he added. The culprits sell sand collected from riverbanks at high prices to customers for construction works.
Residents of the district said that unbridled illegal mining was continuing on the banks of the Beas and its tributaries such as the Parbati in Manali, Patlikihal, Kullu, Bhunter and Bajaura.
Abhishek Rai, an environmentalist, said, “Illegal mining is a serious threat to the ecology of the area and it also poses the danger of floods in inhabited areas. Due to illegal mining, the water course of the river changes direction, posing the threat of floods during the rainy season when the Beas is in spate. Several such incidents have been reported in the past when the Beas flooded the Patlikuhal area, forcing the district administration to get the area vacated”.
“It is a matter of concern that direct road links have been made at several places close to the Beas and the authorities concerned are reluctant to close these points. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court should take strict note of the situation and direct the authorities concerned to take necessary steps to curb the illegal practice,” he said.
Suresh Kumar, Mining Officer, Kullu, said that the department was conducting raids regularly to check illegal mining on the banks of the Beas. Last month, around 20 challans were issued and a fine of Rs 1 lakh was imposed on the offenders.
