Residents oppose mining auction in Neugal river, urge CM to intervene
The residents of Batthan panchayat have made a fervent appeal to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to immediately stay the proposed auction of mining sites in the Neugal river and other rivulets within the Dheera subdivision. They warned that allowing the Mining Department to proceed with the auction would not only encourage illegal mining but also pose a serious threat to water supply schemes and vital bridges in the area.
The Batthan panchayat passed a resolution opposing the move, and a copy of it has been sent to the Chief Minister’s office for urgent consideration.
The Mining Department has proposed to auction several new sites in the rivers and rivulets of the Thural area to facilitate the disposal of sand and stones that were carried down during the last monsoon season. A team comprising officials from various departments recently visited the sites to expedite the auction process. However, local panchayats were not consulted or informed during this inspection, drawing criticism from the residents.
Seema Devi and Sat Pal, the pradhan and up-pradhan of Batthan panchayat, while addressing media persons, expressed grave concerns over the plan. They cautioned that auctioning these sites would pave the way for mining mafias to enter and exploit the region’s natural resources unchecked. “If the sites are auctioned, it will open floodgates for illegal and uncontrolled mining. The mining mafia will wreak havoc on the environment,” they warned, urging the Mining Department to withdraw its proposal immediately.
They further pointed out that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had already imposed a ban on mining activities in the Neugal river, making the department’s move not only risky but also potentially unlawful.
A spokesperson of the Mining Department, however, said a fixed quantity of material would be allowed for extraction post-auction. Villagers, however, remain unconvinced, claiming that once these sites are auctioned, there would be no effective monitoring and the mafia would exploit the situation to loot the region’s rich natural resources.
Seema Devi recalled that in August last year, a mining site near Thural was auctioned. In the absence of proper regulation, mining mafias dug deep trenches into forestland and riverbeds, causing massive environmental damage. Repeated complaints to the Mining and Public Works Departments yielded no action.
Environmentalists under the campaign ‘Save Neugal, Save Environment’ have also raised alarm, especially with a Rs 113 crore Asian Development Bank-funded water supply scheme currently underway in the Neugal riverbed. They urged the Chief Minister to intervene and ensure that local stakeholders, including panchayats and environmental experts, are consulted before any decision is finalised.
Himachal Tribune