In what could be viewed as a major and persistent crackdown on illegal mining activities, the forest department seized a total of more than 800 vehicles and recovered Rs 3.46 crore compounding amount in illegal mining cases during the financial year 2017-18. The action was undertaken in the western circle of the forest department.
The conservator of forests, western circle, Parag Madhukar Dhakate said that incidence of illegal mining had increased in the region during recent years. Taking serious cognisance of this, the forest department along with the Special Task Force undertook consistent action against illegal mining activities in the western circle of the forest department. The seizing of about 800 vehicles found being used in illegal mining and recovering Rs 3.46 crore compounding amount during the previous financial year is being considered the biggest such action taken by the department against illegal mining in the state so far. Dhakate further informed that there are five forest divisions in the western circle. Of these, the Terai east division is the largest and here the bulk of mining work is undertaken on the Gaula riverbed. Following the action taken by the department, the reported illegal mining on the Gaula which had become quite frequent has now been brought under control to a considerable extent.
In the Ramnagar west area, quarrying work is undertaken on the Kosi and Dabka riverbed. Here too, the illegal mining activity has been brought under control. Similarly, major action was also taken by the department against illegal mining activities at Nandhaur and Sharada in the Haldwani forest division. In the Ramnagar division, mining is not allowed in the Nihal riverbed while in the Terai central division mining is not allowed on the Baur river but elements of the mining mafia attempt to illegally quarry materials from these rivers too.
Considering such factors, the department drafted an elaborate plan and acted upon it during the previous financial year which resulted in a major crackdown on illegal mining activities.
Such action will continue against illegal mining activity in the western circle, he added.