Sirmaur villagers demand relief for mining damage
A delegation of villagers from Khatwad in the trans-Giri area of Sirmaur district met Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Paonta Sahib, seeking compensation for extensive damage caused to their houses and fertile lands due to mining operations in Banor. Despite repeated appeals to the mining operator, the affected families claimed they had not received any compensation for the losses they had endured.
Sumer Chand, Hakam Singh, and Dinesh Kumar, residents of Khatwad and Sunyari village, stated that their ancestral houses and agricultural lands had suffered severe damage due to the ongoing mining activities. They reported that erosion caused by the operations had rendered their fertile fields unusable and forced them to relocate to Dugana village.
“The fertile fields in Sunyari have been destroyed by the continuous soil erosion caused by mining,” said one of the villagers. “Even the natural water sources and grazing areas have been severely damaged.”
The villagers alleged that despite raising the issue multiple times with the operator of Chaudhary Mines, there has been no response or effort to address their concerns. Frustrated by the lack of action, they submitted a written complaint to SDM Paonta Sahib.
Confirming receipt of the complaint, SDM Paonta Sahib Gunjeet Singh Cheema stated, “We have directed the Tehsildar of Paonta Sahib to conduct a demarcation of the affected land and asked the Mining Officer of Sirmaur to inspect the site. If damages are confirmed, necessary compensation will be ensured.”
The villagers are hoping relief and justice as they have endured significant hardships due to the mining activities in the region.
