Illegal mining on the rise at Paonta Sahib

Pankaj Sharma

Nahan, March 1

Rampant illegal mining is on the rise in Paonta Sahib. It is not only posing a threat to the environment but also disrupting the livelihood of local communities. From January 2023 to January 2024, a fine of Rs 49 lakh was collected in 280 cases from the mining mafia under the Indian Forest Act (IFA) and the Mining Act, said Aishwarya Raj, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Paonta Sahib.

He added, “In the recent past, there have been several deadly attacks on patrolling teams of the Forest Department by mining mafias, for which 10 FIRs have been lodged with the police. Most of the tractors and other vehicles used in illegal mining are without registration numbers.”

Local residents bear the brunt

• Illegal mining deprives local communities of their rightful share of natural resources and disrupts their traditional practices like fishing and agriculture.
• The fear of landslides and flashfloods due to unstable riverbeds is a constant worry for local residents

In the past one year, the Sirmaur police issued 906 challans regarding illegal mining and collected a fine of Rs 54 lakh, with most of the cases coming to light from the Paonta Sahib area. The police registered 19 FIRs and arrested 22 persons. Thirty cases were sent to the court, out of which 13 cases were yet to be decided, stated a police source.

The Mining Department, led by the District Mining Officer, entrusted with the task of checking illegal mining, issued 213 challans in the same period and most of these cases pertained to the Paonta Sahib area. Despite being the nodal agency, the penalty collected was a mere Rs 12 lakh from the mining mafia. “Most of the cases were sent to court and were yet to be decided,” said Kulbhushan Sharma, District Mining Officer, Nahan.

Reports indicate a significant rise in the illegal mining cases in Paonta Sahib, particularly along the Yamuna riverbed. These activities involve the extraction of sand, gravel and other minerals without proper permits and environmental safeguards. The mining mafia often operates under the cover of darkness in violation of the norms as well as in daylight by pressing heavy machinery in utter disregard of the environmental norms.

“Far-reaching environmental damages like riverbed degradation, increased soil erosion and disruption of natural habitats have become common in the area.” This, in turn, affects the local flora and fauna, impacting biodiversity and water quality. Additionally, the use of heavy machinery often leads to noise pollution and dust accumulation, affecting the health and well-being of nearby residents,” observed Nathu Ram Chauhan, a social activist.

Illegal mining often deprives the local communities of their rightful share of natural resources and disrupts their traditional practices like fishing and agriculture. Furthermore, the fear of landslides and flash floods due to unstable riverbeds is a constant worry for residents, said Robin Sharma, another Paonta Sahib resident.