Illegal mining rampant in border districts: Forest officials under fire for inaction
Despite being authorised to check illegal mining on their respective lands, several officers across Himachal Pradesh have shown little interest in curbing the menace — particularly on forest and revenue land.
Data presented by the state government during the last Vidhan Sabha session, in response to a question raised by an Opposition BJP legislator, highlights a glaring disparity in enforcement efforts. In districts like Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Shimla, Solan and Una, forest officials reported zero cases of illegal mining on forest land. Only three cases were reported in Chamba and 18 in the police district of Nurpur.
By contrast, officers in Mandi and Sirmaur districts demonstrated proactive enforcement, registering 220 and 250 cases respectively since 2023. Their commitment to tackling environmentally destructive mining practices sets a notable benchmark.
In Nurpur, which borders Punjab, 18 cases of illegal mining on forest land were recorded. However, in other bordering districts such as Una, Kangra and Solan — hotspots for illegal mining — forest officers appear to have turned a blind eye.
The situation in areas like Baddi, Kangra and Solan is particularly concerning. These districts have become breeding grounds for illegal mining, where residents reportedly purchase tractor-trailers specifically to aid in transporting mined materials. From January to mid-April this year, police challaned 217 tractors, underscoring their widespread use in unlawful operations. In many instances, illegal mining occurs on both forest and revenue lands, yet action has largely been limited to the police, with minimal response from other departments.
While the state’s mining department initiated action in 7,465 cases during this government’s tenure, the police have emerged as the primary enforcement agency, cracking down in 13,226 cases over the past two years.
Sirmaur saw the highest number of police-led actions (1,855 cases), while mining officials in the district could apprehend only 512 offenders. In Kangra, police acted in 1,843 cases, whereas the forest department managed to intervene in just one.
Illegal mining not only drains government revenue but also causes severe environmental damage. Reckless excavation in riverbeds alters the natural flow of rivers, triggering flash floods and damaging infrastructure. Bridges in industrial areas such as Baddi and Nalagarh have suffered repeated damage due to unregulated mining activities.
