By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 21 Oct: Despite claims by the government and the state as well as the district administration that illegal quarrying and mining of construction material from rivers and elsewhere would not be tolerated, the fact remains that rampant quarrying of stones, sand, etc., in the state including the capital Dehradun continues unabated. Shockingly, neither do the Police take cognisance of the complaints filed by the concerned citizens nor do the mining and revenue officials take the complaints seriously. Uncontrolled quarrying of stones and sand in the rivers of Dehradun and elsewhere was a major reason why some of the bridges, including the one along Raipur-Thano Road at village Saura Saroli had collapsed in the monsoon.
Although, quarrying in the rivers around the bridges was never permitted under the rules, yet after the collapse of Saura Saroli bridge and some other bridges in the monsoon this year, an order was issued by the government banning quarrying in rivers around the bridges. The administration lacked the will to curb illegal mining and quarrying, reportedly because of the nexus between the mining mafia and the politicians, the administration as well as the police officials.
Illegal quarrying in River Nun off Santala Devi Temple in Garhi Cantonment is one such area where rampant quarrying is carried out every day by the mining mafia. According to the local residents who spoke with Garhwal Post, the mining mafia gets active after sunset till late night and again at 4 a.m. every morning till sunrise. The amount of noise created by the JCBs is so much that those living in Birpur-Ghangora Cantonment area near Santala Devi find it difficult to sleep peacefully.
They further claim that, several times, residents have pointed this out to the local police officials at Garhi Cantt Police Station as well as to the local administration but the police officials or the revenue and local mining officials could not care less. The mining mafia continues its activities without any fear.
It may be recalled that River Nun flows in Birpur-Ghanghora Cantonment in Dehradun District off Santala Devi. This is a perennial river which is a tributary of River Tons. The valley of River Nun is famous for Santala Devi Mandir where thousands of devotees come every Sunday with families and friends to offer prayers to the Goddess. The temple was established by Gorkha soldiers and, to appease the Deity, goats and other animals were sacrificed at the temple. Though this ritual was banned at the initiative of Maneka Gandhi, the sacrifice still continues, which is just an indication of how the administration looks away from all illegal activities including quarrying. Due to illegal sacrifice of goats at the temple and the rampant illegal quarrying of stones and sand, the environment of the valley and surroundings of the River Nun is being damaged.
The locals allege that the rampant illegal quarrying is carried out with the connivance of local police. Those involved in the quarrying are well connected with politicians, they allege, openly boasting of their political connections whenever any local person tries to confront them. These people change their alliance to whichever party is in power. They further allege that hundreds of Pickups are engaged in the mining activity here and their activities are forcing the river also to change its course. In case such rampant quarrying continued, the day is not far when the River Nun will turn into another Rispana or Bindal they claim.
