Haryana government exploring feasibility of making a mining zone in Lapra village on Yamuna bank, activists fume

YAMUNANAGAR: Despite large number of mining cases registered and suspension of a contract of a mining firm for causing environment damage in Yamuna river area, the Haryana government is exploring feasibility of making two more mining zones at the available land of Lapra village in Jagadhri block and Nandgarh village in Bilaspur block of Yamunanagar district.
The state government has sought a status report from the district administration about the possibilities of making mining zones at the said villages settled on Yamuna river bank.
Yamunanagar deputy commissioner (DC) Mukul Kumar on Friday said, “The state government has sought a status report to find feasibility of mining zones in Lapra and Nandgarh villages of the district. A joint committee has been formed under the leadership of sub-division magistrates (SDMs) of Bilaspur and Jagadhri for working in their respective areas. The officials of all the concerned departments have been involved in this committee and most probably in a time of week or so, they would submit their final report regarding parameters and feasibility of making mining zones.”
“The report will be sent to the government and it will take further decisions according to the report”, added DC Mukul.
Recently, on September 2, a district administration committee including officials of Haryana departments of irrigation and water resources (IRWD), forest, mines and geology, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), block and panchayat development and revenue visited Lapra village for conducting survey and checking feasibility of the land along Yamuna bank.
As per the information, a large piece of land of Lapra village belonging to panchayat and farmers is lying unused and vacant along the Yamuna bank for long and the government is exploring to lease the same for mining activities to earn revenue.
Ajiz Khan, husband of Lapra village sarpanch Ifsana told, “About 90 acres of land at our village, of which 30 acres belong to panchayat and 60 acres to farmers, are lying unused as it is in the flood range of Yamuna river. During the rainy season, the Yamuna flood enters our village. Now, the villagers want the mining activity to start here so that the sand from the riverbed can be removed to clear passage for water. This will also give employment to villagers and the farmers would be able to earn from their land which was earlier lying unused.”
Waryam Singh, president of Anti-Corruption Society, Haryana said, “In a complaint lodged at Haryana chief minister (CM) window dated June 18, 2019, we sought Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the overloading and illegal mining cases in Yamunanagar district. The Yamuna river mining zones have been vastly exploited by the mining mafia. The earlier tender holders destroyed all the roads of the district, caused pollution, and obstructed the natural flow of Yamuna by making bunds. The further tenders should not be given as the situation that worsened from already given tenders is yet to be controlled. Mining should be banned in Yamunanagar, for the time being, and the government should reconsider the policy and draw strict laws to stop exploitation of natural resources. It should not happen that a company is allowed to do mining activity for 8 hours and it is continuing its operations for 24 hours in an unabated manner.”
Mining gives revenue worth crores to the state government and the cases of illegal mining in Yamunanagar area are also in the knowledge of National Green Tribunal (NGT), and it is taking cognizance on a petition number 87/2020 filed by Kiranpal Rana of Kanalsi village, president of Yamuna Sewa Samiti. The NGT on July 15, 2020, has sought factual and action taken report from Yamunanagar district, within three months and next date of hearing is on January 6, 2021.