Despite repeated crackdowns and a Supreme Court ban, the ecologically fragile Aravali hills in Haryana's Nuh district continue to face brazen violations. Fresh incidents of illegal mining for stone and sand have been reported from the Aravali belt near the Basai Meo stretch, where illicit operators reportedly brought down an entire hillock in December 2024.
Residents Report Trolley Convoys, Empty Sites for Officials
Local residents have raised alarms over the persistent activity, describing a pattern where miners operate swiftly to evade capture. "Trolleys come in, load the material and leave. By the time officials arrive, everything is gone. We have been raising this for days," said Sajid, a resident of Ghata Shamshabad. Acting on a specific tip-off about around 15 trolleys involved in illegal mining near Ghata Shamshabad village, the forest department alerted the geology and mining department and enforcement authorities.
A joint inspection was carried out on Friday evening by teams from the forest department, geology and mining department, and the Haryana State Enforcement Bureau (HSEB), Nuh. However, in a recurring scene, no individuals were found at the location during the inspection. Officials stated an inquiry was initiated and further action would follow verification.
Widespread Excavation Across Villages Prompts Task Force
The inspection also covered Ghata Shamshabad, where locals alleged soil was being excavated from mounds and transported away. Residents claimed 10-15 trolleys of soil were moved from the area. A forest official from Nuh confirmed that immediate action was initiated upon receiving information about illegal stone mining in Hirwadi village and illegal soil digging and theft in the area. A formal complaint was submitted to the geology and mining department and HSEB police station in Nuh, urging action against the accused.
In response to the escalating issue, the district administration has constituted a task force under the chairmanship of the deputy commissioner to curb illegal mining. Village sarpanches have been instructed to alert officials immediately upon noticing any illegal excavation, enabling enforcement teams to respond swiftly.
Persistent Network in a Sensitive Border Zone
The villages of concern, including Ghata Shamshabad—a 15-minute drive from Basai Meo—fall in a region already under intense scrutiny. Basai Meo was previously the subject of an ACB investigation into alleged collusion between officials and miners to allow construction on forest and agricultural land. This area along the Haryana-Rajasthan border has repeatedly faced allegations of illegal mining, with officials and locals earlier alleging that miners created a network of routes across villages, using the border belt as a corridor.
This latest episode underscores the severe limitations of government interventions. It comes even after the Supreme Court rapped the Haryana government and chief secretary for failing to protect a hillock in Basai Meo, which lies in a ravaged section of the Aravalis. Despite the mining ban in south Haryana under Supreme Court orders, the illegal extraction and transportation of material continue discreetly, highlighting a critical enforcement gap in protecting this vital natural barrier.
