Digging trouble: Illegal mining rips through Palampur’s green heart

The lower regions of Palampur, including Jaisinghpur, Sulaha, Baijnath and surrounding areas, are witnessing severe environmental degradation due to unchecked mining activities along a 100-km stretch of the Neugal, Mol, Awa and Binwa rivers — all tributaries of the Beas. The relentless extraction of sand and boulders from riverbeds is not only damaging the ecology but also violating the state’s mining policy.

Illegal quarrying continues unabated, as tractors, tippers and earthmovers operated by the mining mafia work round the clock. While occasional crackdowns by police or the Mining Department result in brief halts and challans, the operations resume soon after. The brazen violations have drawn the attention of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, which recently took suo motu cognizance of the matter and directed the state government to submit a status report. High-level teams from the court also conducted visits to the affected areas to assess the situation on ground.

Local resistance has been growing. Numerous panchayats, residents, and NGOs have staged protests against the mining, citing not only ecological destruction but also threats to drinking water sources. In particular, Neugal river — a lifeline for many villages — has become a battleground between concerned citizens and mining interests.

Seema Devi, pradhan of Batthan Panchayat, has strongly opposed the Mining Department’s proposal to permit mining in her area. She has submitted a formal memorandum to the local SDM and Deputy Commissioner of Kangra, urging them to deny permission for any kind of mining in the Neugal river. She fears that official approval would embolden illegal miners, worsening the situation for villagers already bearing the brunt of environmental disruption.

Adding to the grassroots movement is Sat Pal, an ex-serviceman and whistleblower who has been campaigning against the mining mafia for five years. Despite surviving a recent fatal attack, he remains resolute. He pointed out that his panchayat had unanimously passed a resolution opposing mining, yet proposals continue to surface for auctioning sites in the same area.

In response to increasing public pressure, local panchayats and youth have formed vigilance committees to monitor and report illegal mining. These youth groups have previously succeeded in compelling government departments to dismantle illegal roads constructed by the mafia through protected forest lands leading to the riverbeds.

The Forest Department has now stepped in with a dedicated team of officers to prevent illegal mining on forest land, particularly in Baijnath, Jaisinghpur and Dheera sub-divisions. Over the past six months, the department has dismantled several unauthorized access roads built by the mafia. Divisional Forest Officer Sanjiv Sharma has vowed firm action, asserting that no one will be allowed to enter rivers via forest routes. He emphasised that the department is committed to curbing the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining activities.

Himachal Tribune