Illegal mining persists in Ropar despite monsoon ban

Illegal mining continues unabated in the Ropar, Anandpur Sahib and Nangal subdivisions, defying the complete ban on mining during the monsoon season.

Sources told The Tribune that these operations often occur under the cover of night between 12 and 3 am. In one instance, illegal mining was reported in Talwara village of Nangal subdivision, where desilting of the local rivulet was conducted at night, violating the ban.

In the past 10 days, the Ropar district administration has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining, confiscating two pocklane machines and one JCB machine in Ropar subdivision and two pocklane machines from Anandpur Sahib subdivision.

Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Singh Walia confirmed that mining is strictly prohibited during monsoon, highlighting that 45 checks were conducted in Ropar and 25 in Anandpur Sahib, resulting in numerous challans and recovery notices against offenders.

“In both the subdivisions, at least 19 challans each have been filed against offenders, 32 recovery notices have been issued in Ropar subdivision and 54 in Anandpur Sahib subdivision,” he said.

Despite these efforts, the registration of FIRs remains slow, pending approval from mining officers. In a recent incident, forest officials were assaulted while attempting to halt illegal mining in Bhangla village, yet no FIR has been filed despite their complaints.

The sources said that under the mines and mineral rules, sanction from mining officers of respective areas was necessary for registration of FIRs. It depends on the discretion of mining officers that want to compound the offence of illegal mining by imposing fine on offenders or get a case registered against them. In the current cases, there was blatant violation of ban on mining in the rivers during monsoons.

The riverbeds of Sutlej and its tributaries in Ropar remain hotspots for illegal mining activities.