Illegal mining causes concern

SHIMLA: Unscrupulous mining along 25 kms of the river bank of the Pabbar from Patsari to Chirgoan, has become a cause of concern for the villages on both sides along the river, as the banks have been eroded by those engaged in the illegal mining, even as the concerned authorities are paying a Neslon''s eye to the happenings.
Locals fear that should the illegal mining continue unabated the deluge that followed the flashfloods in the regions about five years back, could recur again.It may be recalled that hundreds of lives were lost in the flashfloods in the Andhra Khud, a tributary of the Pabbar, in the Chirgaon area of Shimla district.
They said that those involved in the illegal mining of stones, gravel and sand along the banks of the Pabbar are neither discreet about their activities, nor concerned for the fragile ecology and environment of the region, nor the fear that a flashflood could once again play havoc in their lives.
Admitting that those indulging in the clandestine activities were also residents of the villages along the river banks, the locals said that the lure of the moolah was too strong and no matter how much they tried, the illegal miners were not willing to listen to any argument and continue raking in money every day.
They revealed that complaints had been made on the sly to the concerned government authorities, but the network of those concerned in the clandestine activity, was far batter than that of the government, for they were tipped off prior to a raid, and the day the government machinery swooped upon the region, the illegal miners became conspicuous by their absence.
On an average, they said that about 25 to 30 tractors full of stones, gravel or sand is illegally mined from the river banks every day, which makes their way to the markets where they are sold. "As those engaged in the activity have to pay neither royalty nor any government tax or fees, whatever price they get is all profit, conveniently pocketed", they added.
The fears of the locals are not unfounded. The banks of the Pabbar have been badly eroded and during the monsoons when the water rushes down the mountain slopes, carrying everything that comes in its way.
And as the foliage that grows along the banks of the river, which would have otherwise served as a cushion to break the swift velocity of the water, has been removed by the illegal miners, who have also cut as much as six to seven feet along the banks, they just cave in, widening the river bed and carrying away fertile land.
They said that there had been occasions when the eater had overflown the banks into the fertile agricultural fields along the sides of the river damaging the crops. Besides, the sand that is left behind when the water recedes, makes the fields unfertile and barren, for the next years, they added.
Geologists at the geological wing of the industries department admitted that a huge presence of shrubs and a thick layer of sand are necessary along the banks to prevent erosion and to curb the velocity of the river water during heavy rains, and if they are missing the banks could erode and the river wreak havoc in the region.
They said that to curb the illegal mining along the river banks, the department had posted inspectors, but they were without teeth. "The inspector has no office, forget communication equipment and assisting staff, which only makes it that much harder to control the illegal mining", they added.