Himachal: Mand area of Indora on banks of Beas becomes hub of illegal mining

Rampant and unscientific mining in the mand area of neighbouring Indora subdivision of Kangra district has become a cause for concern for the local residents. Despite opposition from the locals, the mining mafia continues to extract stones and other raw material from the Beas and the Chonch rivulet using heavy machinery like JCB and Poclain, creating huge trenches on the riverbeds.

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The environment of this interstate border area is under grave threat and residents of several gram panchayats in the mand area are facing the repercussions of illegal mining. Despite a ban on mining activities during night hours, the offenders are extracting raw material with the help of machinery at night with impunity.

The ward number 11 in Indora gram panchayat in Kangra district situated on the banks of the Beas has become a hub of illegal mining. The authorities concerned have failed to curb the illegal practice.

As per the sources, illegal mining has been going on unabated for the past several months. Mining day and night with the help of JCB machines and transporting the extracted raw material from a passage in this residential area has become a

daily affair.

Land belonging to farmers on the banks of the Beas is also being used for illegal mining.

As the sun sets, several tractor-trailers arrive in the area to lift minerals (raw material) extracted with JCB machines for sale to stone crushers operational in the mand area of Indora.

The local residents allege that several loaded tractor-trailers can be seen transporting extracted raw material from ward number 11 at night.

The Mining Department has deputed one Mining Inspector, one Assistant Mining Inspector and one mining guard in Indora. They, however, have not been able to check illegal mining and the transport of the extracted material. The residents of the affected mand area have appealed to the state government to take strict measures to curb illegal mining. SDM, Indora, Surinder Thakur says that on getting information, he directed the DSP, Indora, to take strict action against the offenders and take steps to stop illegal mining in the area.