Una DC writes to govt, demands re-deployment of mining reserve

Even as the state government has banned any new mining lease in Una district till further orders, the withdrawal of the police mining reserve is posing problem in checking illegal mining in the district which shares borders with Ropar and Hoshiarpur areas of Punjab.

The district administration of Una has now written to the government to redeploy the mining police reserve in the district to check illegal mining. Deputy Commissioner Una Jatin Lal, when asked, said that the mining police reserve was removed from Una district in the month of December. “It was difficult to check illegal mining in the district without the required police force. I have written to the government to re-deploy the mining police reserve in the district to check illegal mining,” he said.

The state government recently banned any new mining lease in Una district till further orders due to reports of rampant illegal mining. In the past, Deputy Commissioner Una and SP Una have conducted raids across the district and filed challans against those involved in illegal mining.

Director Industries has ordered a detailed inquiry into illegal mining in Una, the report for which is awaited.

Sources said that about 70 police personal were specially deputed in Una district as police mining reserve in Una district. The illegal mining is causing loss of revenue to the Himachal government in the form of royalty over mined material and GST since huge quantities are being smuggled out of the state from the porous borders.

Sources said although levelling of the Shivalik hills was being done on private land no permission has been sought from the government and heavy machinery was being used to level the hills. The state government has fixed about 12.5 lakh as fee for use of single JCB or poclain machine for a two years period but many of these machines were being used illegally.

Also, the government has permitted maximum of six mts cutting of hills in the area but this norm too is being flouted with impunity. The conditions laid under the environment impact assessment permission have also been violated by those involved in illegal mining in the area.