Illegal stone chip mining poses serious threat

As many as 100 stone chip making units are reportedly operating along the foothills of Garhwa seriously damaging the mountain and its natural balance. Every day over three dozen small and big trucks loaded with stone chips head towards crusher mills in the district. According to geologists and environmentalists, if the misuse of the destruction of mountain continues unabated, the hills may face massive landslides and soil erosion in the near future.

District Mining Officer has an excuse about lack of manpower and inability to check illegal mining. "There are over 200 points in the district where illegal mining usually takes place.

The Mining Department alone cannot check these points," he says admitting about the presence of 20 illegal crusher mills running in the district. Garhwa DC Neha Arora said that she has already formed task force involving Forest Department, Mining Department and SDO for controlling illegal mining. Recently task force had demolished three brick kilns.