Home / Environment / JCBs Used in River Mining Despite Manual Plan Approval
JCBs Used in River Mining Despite Manual Plan Approval
28 Sep
Summary
- JCBs used for riverbed mining, violating manual extraction plans.
- Excavation depth exceeded limits, not possible manually.
- Permitted extraction capacity vastly exceeds natural replenishment.
A joint committee formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has reported extensive violations in riverbed mining operations along Kundlu Khad in Solan district. The committee found that JCB machinery was utilized for mining, directly contravening approved plans that permitted only manual extraction. Furthermore, excavation at multiple sites surpassed the approved three-meter depth, a feat deemed impossible without machinery.
Three mining leases in the affected area—Jai Mata Stone Crusher, Nalagarh Stone Crusher, and RP Enterprises, and Ruhani Stone Crusher—have been recommended for suspension. This recommendation stems from reassessments of their mining plans and environmental clearances. A significant concern highlighted is the discrepancy between the District Survey Report's (DSR) assessed annual replenishment capacity of 27,027 metric tonnes and the permitted extraction capacity, which was found to be approximately 29 times higher.
The NGT committee initiated its investigation after villagers in December 2025 petitioned about illegal and excessive sand mining causing destruction to agricultural land and homes. Although the committee did not establish a direct link between the mining leases and the reported landslides, it noted that the landslides originated from upper slopes. The committee recommended that mining plans and clearances be revised based on the DSR 2024 and that fresh leases only be granted after adherence to these specifications.
