Railway and NH bridge collapses blamed on illegal mining in Nurpur
COAL & MINING

Railway and NH bridge collapses blamed on illegal mining in Nurpur

The administration in Nurpur was repeatedly warned about the threat that mining poses to the bridges on the Chakki rivulet, a tributary of the Beas.

The collapse of the interstate railway and national highway bridges connecting the state with Punjab could have been avoided if the government had heeded the villagers' persistent pleas to stop illegal mining on the banks of the Chakki rivulet.

The railway bridge for the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge line washed away on august 20, while the national highway single-lane bridge over the Chakki collapsed in July 2007 (the new one was built in 2011).

Numerous complaints on the CM helpline, numerous representations to the Chief Minister, the Mining Department, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Nurpur), and a sizable protest in front of the Dharamsala Vidhan Sabha in December 2019 went unanswered. The call for declaring Chakki rivulet a no-mining zone has grown louder as a result of the collapse of two bridges at Kandwal in Nurpur in the space of 15 years, with the locals adamant that mining be prohibited there. According to the HP Mining Rules, 2015, mining is prohibited within 200 and 300 meters of the NH Bridge, but there are telltale signs of mining activity on the riverbed. In addition, the Railways had also written to Punjab and HP to inquire about the illegal mining that was endangering the rail bridge.

The threat of mining persists despite the extravagant promises made by succeeding governments to stop it, allegedly pointing to a close connection between the mining mafia, political figures, and the bureaucracy.

According to Hoshiyar Singh, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh's Kangra chapter, illegal mining had a negative impact on 15 villages in Nurpur's Jikli Khanni, Uprli-Khanni, Hadal, and Baduee panchayats. “Illegal mining is carried out at night, but the authorities concerned turn a blind eye,” he alleged. He added that the underground water sources have dried up and the agricultural land has become barren as a result of the illegal mining.

The Mining Department and the police would work together effectively to control the threat, according to Nipun Jindal, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra.

See also:
Illegal mining leaves state villages vulnerable
Amendments to mining laws get cabinet nod

The administration in Nurpur was repeatedly warned about the threat that mining poses to the bridges on the Chakki rivulet, a tributary of the Beas. The collapse of the interstate railway and national highway bridges connecting the state with Punjab could have been avoided if the government had heeded the villagers' persistent pleas to stop illegal mining on the banks of the Chakki rivulet. The railway bridge for the Pathankot-Jogindernagar narrow gauge line washed away on august 20, while the national highway single-lane bridge over the Chakki collapsed in July 2007 (the new one was built in 2011). Numerous complaints on the CM helpline, numerous representations to the Chief Minister, the Mining Department, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Nurpur), and a sizable protest in front of the Dharamsala Vidhan Sabha in December 2019 went unanswered. The call for declaring Chakki rivulet a no-mining zone has grown louder as a result of the collapse of two bridges at Kandwal in Nurpur in the space of 15 years, with the locals adamant that mining be prohibited there. According to the HP Mining Rules, 2015, mining is prohibited within 200 and 300 meters of the NH Bridge, but there are telltale signs of mining activity on the riverbed. In addition, the Railways had also written to Punjab and HP to inquire about the illegal mining that was endangering the rail bridge. The threat of mining persists despite the extravagant promises made by succeeding governments to stop it, allegedly pointing to a close connection between the mining mafia, political figures, and the bureaucracy. According to Hoshiyar Singh, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh's Kangra chapter, illegal mining had a negative impact on 15 villages in Nurpur's Jikli Khanni, Uprli-Khanni, Hadal, and Baduee panchayats. “Illegal mining is carried out at night, but the authorities concerned turn a blind eye,” he alleged. He added that the underground water sources have dried up and the agricultural land has become barren as a result of the illegal mining. The Mining Department and the police would work together effectively to control the threat, according to Nipun Jindal, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra. See also: Illegal mining leaves state villages vulnerableAmendments to mining laws get cabinet nod

Next Story
Real Estate

Mahindra Lifespaces Bags Rs 12.5 billion Redevelopment in Mulund

Mahindra Lifespace Developers (MLDL), the real estate and infrastructure development arm of the Mahindra Group, has been appointed as the preferred developer for the redevelopment of a premium housing society in Mulund (West), Mumbai. The project will be developed across a 3.08-acre land parcel, with an estimated development value of approximately Rs 12.5 billion. Strategically located, the site enjoys proximity to major connectivity points—just 1.4 km from the upcoming Mumbai Metro Line 5 and 0.8 km from the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road. It also offers seamless access to the Eastern Expre..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Snowman Adds Warehouses in Kolkata and Krishnapatnam

Snowman Logistics, India’s leading integrated temperature-controlled logistics company, has announced the commencement of operations at its two new state-of-the-art, owned cold storage facilities in Kolkata and Krishnapatnam. With these additions, the company’s total pallet capacity has reached 1,50,754, spanning 43 warehouses in 20 cities across the country. The newly operational Kolkata facility offers a storage capacity of 5,630 pallets, while the Krishnapatnam facility holds 3,927 pallets. These warehouses are equipped with advanced automation and infrastructure designed to enhanc..

Next Story
Resources

Noesis Enables IHCL Hotel Deal in Udupi–Manipal Corridor

NOESIS Capital Advisors, India’s leading hotel investment advisory firm, has successfully facilitated a landmark hospitality transaction in the Udupi–Manipal region of Karnataka. The deal involves the acquisition of a nearly completed, 130-key upscale hotel that will operate under one of the premium brands of IHCL, reinforcing NOESIS’ position as a preferred partner for strategic hospitality transactions across India. Strategically located on the Udupi–Manipal Highway, the 1.03-acre property will cater to business travellers, pilgrims and families visiting Manipal University. With..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?