Punjab: After floods, Ropar mining mafia is back to loot Swan Beds
Punjab: Weeks after floodwaters receded in Ropar district, residents of villages along the Swan and Sutlej rivers have alleged that illegal mining has resumed in the area. Residents of Algran and Bhalan villages have complained to the district administration. According to them, tipper trucks loaded with illegally mined sand and gravel can be seen moving at night. Locals say the movement of these heavy vehicles has damaged temporary roads built by the government to help flood-affected residents safely cross the river. Tikka Yashvir Chand, president of the Ilaka Sangharsh Samiti, a local body formed to fight illegal mining, says that despite numerous written complaints, the administration has failed to take any concrete action. Chand says, “Illegal mining takes place every night in the Swan and Sutlej riverbeds. Tipper trucks loaded with stones and sand ply the temporary roads, making these roads unusable even for two-wheelers. This forces villagers to walk through muddy paths.” The government has not approved any legal mining sites in Algran and Bhalan villages. He added, “In the absence of any official permission, the mining mafia continues its operations with impunity. Many stone-crushing machines are operating illegally and extracting material directly from the river bed.” A villager from Bhalan said, “The floods already destroyed our homes and fields. Now, the river bed is being excavated, endangering our lives and livelihoods.” Local organizations and activists have urged the district administration to take strict action against illegal mining. They have also demanded 24-hour patrolling in sensitive areas along the river banks to prevent mining mafia activities at night. Minister Harjot Singh Bains was unavailable for comment and did not respond to WhatsApp messages. Ropar Deputy Commissioner Varjit Singh Walia said he has not yet received any written complaints on the issue. He added that officials will nevertheless be instructed to conduct raids to investigate illegal mining.
