Illegal Mining Prevention Vigilance Unit (IMPVU) was formed by the State Government in December 2013 with an objective of stopping illegal mining activities in riverbed areas of the State. However, the menace is now continuing unimpeded in Haridwar, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar and Dehradun with the unit being bereft of any spunk to take on the mafias. Things are proving difficult for them because of the nexus allegedly existing among police, political executives and the mining mafias.
Illegal mining is rampant, being reported especially from the plain districts of the State almost daily and the Government seems least bothered, runs the collective refrain. “Things are shocking with the administrative officers, police officers and media persons being targeted by the mining mafias and their goons,” said the worried people in unison.
Recently, State Chief Minister Harish Rawat has directed the district police heads to act on illegal mining activities strongly. The district police officers will be made to account for such activities being reported from their jurisdictional areas.
Citing this, an observer said CM Rawat seemed to have lost confidence in IMPVU. “Hence his direct call to the district police heads,” he added.
It should be mentioned here that Sanjay Kumar Gunjyal was made in-charge of IMPVU with the direction by the State Government to conduct raids randomly in river bed areas apart from taking action as per mining act against the violators.
However, Gunjyal did not pick up call made on Tuesday by this correspondent to learn why things are so grim despite the unit being in existence.
Gunjyal had earlier said that police teams are being deployed at various districts to launch drives against illegal mining activities in the state. Several raids were conducted in river beds earlier and maximum penalty was imposed on the violators. District police or sub- divisional magistrates are free to launch drives against illegal mining activities in their jurisdictional areas, he added. IMPVU comprise DIG, inspector, sub-inspector and constables.