Illegal mining surged after new mineral policy: Activists
The decision by the state government to permit the use of heavy machinery in mining activities has led to an alarming rise in illegal mining across Himachal Pradesh. JCBs and poclain machines can now be seen in nearly every river and rivulet, extracting massive amounts of mining material, causing significant environmental damage.
The shift came in 2024 when the state government introduced a new mining policy, replacing the 11-year-old Mineral Policy-2013, which had been implemented during the tenure of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. Under the new Mineral Policy, 2024, the use of heavy machinery like JCBs and poclain excavators has been officially permitted for extracting minerals from riverbeds to a depth of up to two meters. Stone crusher owners have also been granted the right to use such machinery under the revised policy.
While the state government claims that the new policy has helped curb illegal mining and increased revenue collection, environmental groups strongly disagree. Activists argue that the policy has led to large-scale environmental degradation, with heavy machinery digging up riverbeds in an unscientific manner, often operating round the clock with little oversight.
Local environmentalists, including Ashwani Gautam of Save Neugal River and KB Ralhan of People’s Voice, have expressed grave concerns over the devastating impact of unrestricted mining. Speaking to The Tribune, they stated that deep trenches have appeared in the Neugal River since heavy machinery was introduced, causing several lift irrigation schemes operated by the IPH Department to dry up. The continuous digging has lowered water levels in the region’s rivers, disrupting local ecosystems. At Jaisinghpur, massive machines have been spotted mining sand and stone from the middle of the Beas River, in blatant violation of environmental regulations. Local residents report that animals frequently fall into these deep pits and die, further worsening the ecological crisis.
According to these activists, the mining lobby had been lobbying for over two decades to legalise the use of heavy machinery, but successive governments resisted their demands. This is the first time a government has openly allowed JCBs and poclains to be used for mining operations, giving rise to unregulated extraction.
Varun Bhuria, a long-time advocate against illegal mining in Neugal River, pointed out that both the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the High Court had previously opposed the use of heavy machinery for sand, stone, and mineral extraction. Most of the state’s rivers pass through protected forest zones, making them highly sensitive ecosystems that should be shielded from large-scale commercial exploitation.
He further cited a Supreme Court ruling, which mandates that every protected forest must have an eco-sensitive buffer zone of at least 1 km, where mining is strictly prohibited. Additionally, the court has reinforced that mining activities within national wildlife sanctuaries and national parks cannot be permitted under any circumstances.
Despite these legal safeguards, illegal mining continues unchecked, wreaking havoc on the natural landscape of Himachal Pradesh. Environmentalists and concerned citizens are now urging the state government to reconsider its policy before irreparable damage is done to the fragile riverine ecosystems of the region.
