Illegal mining persists in Panchkula despite arrests

Illegal mining continues to be a major issue in Panchkula, despite recent arrests of police and officials linked to the problem. Areas such as Pinjore-Nalagarh Road, Mallah Road, Raipur Rani, and Morni are hotspots for these activities. Local villagers report significant environmental damage. Many trees have been cut down and tube wells have been disrupted, leading to soil erosion and deforestation. Vijay Bansal, president of the Shivalik Vikas Manch, stated that illegal mining near hills is occurring despite regulations that prohibit it. Congress councillor Salim Dabkouri expressed frustration over the lack of action from municipal officers. He noted that illegal mining has been reported for five years, yet there has been no significant response. Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal acknowledged that miners have exceeded their permitted limits and promised that officials would enforce the law. However, an official from the municipal corporation mentioned that they lack the authority to directly intervene in illegal mining cases. They have reached out to the state’s geology and mining department and local police to take further action. The district administration claims to be responding to the issue and has taken steps such as seizing vehicles and imposing fines. In February, they seized 24 vehicles and collected over Rs 21 lakh in fines. Despite these efforts, illegal mining persists in Panchkula.