Roads constructed for illegal mining in Neugal river near Thural dismantled

Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR, April 20

Local administration along with heavy police force and mining department officials today dismantled a road constructed by mining mafia leading to illegal mining site in Neugal river near Thural, 30 km from here. The mining department also issued warning to mining mafia to refrain from illegal mining activities or face action under the Indian Penal Code and environmental laws.

The Tribune had carried a news in these columns yesterday highlighting large-scale illegal mining going on in Neugal river near Thural, where villagers had also lodged protest against the illegal mining.

The residents of Thural area had also protested against illegal mining going on in Neugal river near Naun village damaging local paths, electric installations, water channels, roads and cremation grounds.

Today officials of the mining department along with police force arrived on the spot and dismantled road with the help of JCB machine constructed by the mining mafia to reach the river bed.

Local youth, who have launched a campaign against illegal mining in Neugal river, welcomed the step of mining department and said that illegal mining was not only resulting in large-scale environmental degradation in Thural area but it was also causing loss to the state exchequer in lacs daily as mined material was being lifted without paying royalty to the state government.