Mining mafia chased away in Palampur

Our Correspondent

Palampur, September 3

Villagers of Thural in Palampur on Thursday lodged a protest against the illegal mining in the Neugal at Naun village on the Palampur-Hamirpur highway.

Ban only on paper

Despite a ban on the use of machinery for mining in the state, the mafia has pressed into service tractor-trailers, tippers and earthmovers. Therefore, we decided to seize these. Villagers

The villagers assembled in Thural, reached the mining site along the Neugal and forced the mafia to run away, along with their tractor-trailers. The villagers said despite repeated complaints to the police, the PWD and IPH departments took no action and mining continued round the clock.

The mafia had stacked boulders and sand on the forestland, which was being transported to Mandi, Hamirpur and Kangra daily. They said the state was losing revenue of about Rs 10-15 lakh daily. The mafia was regularly charging illegal cess from tractors owners.

“Despite a ban on the use of machinery for mining, the mafia has pressed into service JCB machines, tractor-trailers, tippers and earthmovers. Therefore, we decided to seize these,” the villagers said.

The protesters said roads, bridges, irrigation channels, cremation grounds and village pastures had been destroyed because of continuous mining in the area.

Two days ago, when the villagers had filed online complaints regarding the issue, the police said they had no manpower to deal with the mafia. A senior police officer said there was a limited force in police station at Thural and it was not possible to focus on illegal mining alone as they had other matters to resolve.

Rajiv Kalia, Mining Officer, Dharamsala, said he had dismantled the illegal roads with the help of the police in the past six months, but the mafia had restored the stretch during night. He would file a complaint with the police to seek help, he said.

The villagers said they had decided to resort to a direct action and continue their fight against the illegal mining till the practice was stopped.