Deep nexus: Fields turned into 'gorge', road infra ravaged by mining mafia in Fazilka

Praful Chander Nagpal

Fazilka, July 24

Leaders of successive governments have virtually destroyed the border link road network and ecology in Fazilka district by conniving with the officials of the Mining Department and sand mafia and allowing the illegal practice in the border belt.

A visit through Nawan Salemshah village on the Ganju Hasta road on Fazilka outskirts shows agricultural fields that are 15 to 20 feet deep, appearing like a gorge.

A middle-aged villager, Jaswant Singh, born and brought up in Nawan Salemshah village, says about two decades back, their fields were on the level of the road.

He said fields had become flood-prone, posing a threat to nearby houses. Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that not only Nawan Salemshah village, but other areas, including Amir Khas, Rana, Badha, Chak Saidoke, Miani Basti, Mahatam Nagar, Sukhera Bodla, Kawan Wali, situated on the Sutlej banks also faced a similar situation in the past as heavy vehicles used to ply on these link roads, posing a threat to ecology as well as villagers’ lives.

• Read more stories on illegal mining

The villagers alleged that a late Akali Dal MP had been infamous for patronising illegal mining, particularly in the Jalalabad belt. The business thrived manifold during that period. The white sand excavated in these areas was of good quality and was transported throughout Punjab, along with Haryana, Rajasthan and the entire country. The mafia minted hundreds of crores and shared the booty with each other.

CPI district unit secretary Hans Raj Golden, who spearheaded the stir against illegal mining, says what to speak of curtailing the practice, none of the officials have even lent an ear to their complaints in the past two decades.

Another significant factor is that there is a razor-thin line to distinguish between legal and illegal mining. Taking advantage of the situation, the mafia excavates up to unspecified depth and extend their operations in surrounding locations as well.

Meanwhile, ever since the present government came into power, the mining mafia has been subdued to a large extent. The Fazilka police have booked over 100 persons in the past few months.

But as per sources, isolated cases of illegal mining in remote areas are still being reported. The activity is carried out from midnight till the break of dawn.

Mishap threat looms

• A visit via Nawan Salemshah village on Ganju Hasta Road on town outskirts shows agri fields that are 15 to 20 feet deep, appearing like a gorge
• A villager, Harmesh Kamboj, says the width of Salemshah Road is reduced from 15 to 10 feet, hence rising the threat of vehicles skidding into fields

OVER 100 OFFENDERS BOOKED IN 6 MONTHS

In all, 80 cases of illegal mining have been registered and 108 persons have been booked in the past six months. Some offenders have also been arrested. — Bhupinder Singh Sidhu, SSP

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR QUARRY ALLOCATION

The government has invited applications from farmers, on whose land the sand is available, to allocate the approved quarries. The process is likely to be completed in two to three months. — Narinderpal Singh Sawna, AAP MLA

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