Himachal Pradesh deploys additional mining officer to curb illegal sand mining in Chakki River

Kullu: Authorities in Himachal Pradesh have deployed an additional mining officer and created a flying squad to combat illegal sand mining along the Chakki river, amid ongoing boundary disputes with neighboring Punjab, the state's industries department has told the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The disclosure came during a hearing of a case filed before the tribunal on alleged unregulated mining activity in the riverbed. In an official reply, HP's industries director, Yunus, said the Kandwal-Lodhwan-Tipri belt in Kangra district's Nurpur subdivision particularly remained vulnerable to illegal mining due to the Chakki river's shifting course, which sparks frequent territorial disputes with Punjab.
The department's statement reads that: "To address this, the industries department has deployed an additional mining officer with supporting staff to monitor and regulate mining operations in the Nurpur subdivision." Further measures include the formation of a flying squad comprising mining inspectors and guards, tasked with monitoring mining activity and submitting weekly reports. The department has also introduced a system linking the electricity consumption of stone-crushing units to their approved production limits, aimed at curbing unauthorised mineral processing.
Yunus noted that since the enforcement of these measures three months ago, only two cases of illegal mining have been registered. The tribunal took up the matter following a letter petition by local resident Sanjeev Dogra, who claimed rampant mining was degrading the river's ecology, harming flora and fauna, and causing severe erosion. During monsoons, the eroded riverbed reportedly leads to destructive flooding in the surrounding areas.
Responding to the petition, the Tribunal on Nov 7 last year directed the formation of a joint committee to investigate the allegations. In its findings submitted last month, the committee stopped short of denying illegal activity, instead highlighting lapses by the mining department. The report suggests that the boundaries for six out of the 11 leased mining areas along the Chakki river — within the Kandwal-Lodhwan-Tipri stretch particularly — were never demarcated clearly, providing "ample opportunity" for illegal miners to operate undetected. The tribunal continues to review the matter.
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