What happened to Aravalli – Decades ago there were high mountains, now there are deep gorges & mountain stubbles

All types of mining are prohibited in the Aravali mountains without environmental clearance. The govt also claims in the Assembly and in the court that this prohibition is being followed but on the ground, it is a blatant lie. Illegal mining is going on for a decade in dozens of surrounding mountains including Belni and Bhurasiddha of the Shahjahanpur area. Where once there were high mountains, now there are deep gorges & mountain stubbles left. The extent of this is that the mining mafia is still not backing down and is stealing stones from inside the ditched land from the mountain. From the police to the administration everyone is aware but according to them, illegal mining is not happening anywhere. When ‘Bhaskar’ enquired into the matter, it was seen scattered by the blasts of illegal mining. Illegal mining is done using more than 3 dozen tractors and trolleys of the villagers of Belni, Sansedi, Dhodhakari, Jaunayachkalan in Gair mumkin land located in khasra number 140 in bhuri hill of the area & Belni. According to the sources at 8 pm the tunnel is made with a compressor and gun powder is detonated in them. After the explosion, the broken rocks and stones are loaded in tractors & sent to the destination before 6 am. These stones are meant for the foundation of the units under construction in the new industrial areas like Ghiloth, Kolila, boundary wall & gravel road construction.

One dead, case suppressed

Last year in the mountains of Belni, a young man died due to being buried in a stone during mining. After the incident, the police & the mining mafia had suppressed the matter. Sundar Gurjar’s son Amich Gurjar was dependent on animal husbandry & mining for his livelihood. Sundar Gurjar was buried under the rubble during mining last year. Later he died. The villagers performed the last rites in a hurry. Due to the excessive demand, illegal mining is going on in full swing near Belni & Dodkaro.

The mountain stubble seen, police kept denying illegal mining 

On talking to the higher police officials they completely denied illegal mining. When Bhaskar reached the spot, two & a half kilometres from Shahjahanpur toll plaza the sound of explosions & the movement of tractors carrying stones after mining were heard. There were high mountains in this area a decade ago, now only the stubbles remain. Illegal miners are stopped by villagers, but they claim that the police, forest & mineral departments along with the administration are also offered bribes for this work.