Punjab: Why illegal mining rampant in Ropar

Tribune News Service

Ropar, Updated At : 08:36 AM Dec 24, 2025 IST

A stone crusher on the banks of the Swan river in Nangal subdivision.

Illegal mining has continued unabated in Ropar district of Punjab over the past few years, with official data itself pointing towards large-scale irregularities. An analysis of figures related to leased mining sites and the number of operational stone crushers in the district reveals a glaring mismatch, validating allegations of rampant illegal extraction of minor minerals.

THE TRIBUNE, India’s oldest, daily English-language newspaper, was first published on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan), and save for 40 days in the immediate aftermath of Partition, has come out every day over the last 145 years. THE TRIBUNE was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist of the time. The newspaper is run by a five-member Trust, which is chaired by Shri N N Vohra, former Governor of J&K State (2008-2018); as well as Justice S S Sodhi, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court; Shri Gurbachan Jagat, former Governor of Manipur; Lt Gen. Shamsher Singh Mehta, former Western Army Commander; Shri Paramjit Singh Patwalia, Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court.

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The Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).

Remembering Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia

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Punjab: Why illegal mining rampant in Ropar

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

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