Illegal mining continues unabated in different parts of Kumaon’s Terai region. Attacks on enforcement agencies and social activists by the mining mafia and their associates are happening at regular intervals. The attack on chairman of the Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation, Harish Dhami in Ramnagar’s Koshi area on Wednesday coming close on the heels of an attack on Statehood activist Prabhat Dhyani and social activist Munish Kumar on March 31 has spawned doubt among the common people of the State over the State Government’s seriousness to deal with the menace.
If the mining mafia can attack me in the presence of police, one can imagine how vulnerable the common people are to the mining bullies, said Harish Dhami. It is pertinent to mention here that Dhami after becoming chairman of the UFDC, had conducted raids in mining areas spread across the region many times in the past. On Wednesday too, accompanied by the police force, he went to see things for himself in Ramnagar’s Dabka and Koshi river belt areas.
The incident happened after he headed towards Koshi river Banjari gate area after inspecting the mining activities in Dabka river belt. The officials said a dumper driver had attempted to hit Dhami’s vehicle. However, Dhami survived the attack by firing shots from his licensed pistol in the air. A case has been registered against the dumper driver.
Expressing concern over this incident, Dhami said strong action would be taken against those engaged in illegal mining after things are investigated.
He said he would also take up the matter with the Chief Minister. Notably, despite occasional raids by the enforcement agencies, illegal mining activities are continuing unabated in different parts of the region.
It may be recalled that Statehood activist Prabhat Dhyani and social activist Munish Kumar were attacked by the goons of the mining mafia in Ramnagar on March 31 when they came in support of people of Ramnagar’s Veerpurlachhi village against the mining mafia.
Whereas Chief Minister Harish Rawat claims to have taken both long-term and short-term measures to wipe out the menace, things are not changing on the ground.