Mining Dept dismantles illegal roads leading to Neugal

Our Correspondent

Palampur, August 5

The local administration, along with police and Mining Department officials, today dismantled a road constructed by the mining mafia that led to an illegal mining site in the Neugal river near Thural, 30 km from here.

The Tribune had carried a news article in these columns recently, highlighting large-scale illegal mining going on in the Neugal near Thural, which had also damaged a bridge on the Palampur-Hamirpur highway.

Mining Department officials, along with a heavy police force, reached the spot and dug trenches on the road so as to block any movement of trucks and tractor-trailers to the river bed.

The residents of Thural area had protested the menace in the Neugal river near Naun and Umri villages, saying that it damaged local paths, electric installations, water channels, roads and cremation grounds.

Local youth, who have launched a campaign against illegal mining in the Neugal river, welcomed the step of Mining Department.

Rajiv Kalia, Mining Officer, Kangra, said the government would not allow illegal mining in Thural. He appealed to residents to cooperate with the mining officials. He said the state government had already auctioned these points but lease documents were yet to be signed.

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Caption: Illegal roads dismantled at Thural to save a bridge. Tribune photo: Ravinder Sood