JAIPUR: The assault on nature continues unabated in Dabi range of Ramgarh Vishdhari Sanctuary (RVS), a newly proposed tiger reserve in Bundi district, as the mining mafia has been brazenly excavating sandstone from the forest land and exporting it.
Illegal mining is an open secret in the region as scores of vehicles ply fearlessly and echoes of sounds of drilling machines can be heard in distant villages.
But all this has failed to wake up the administration.
TimesViewThe state government’s commercial interests are conflicting with conservation.
Forest land is crumbling to mining pressure despite the Supreme Court imposing a blanket ban on such activities.
The mafia is brazenly violating the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.
Rajasthan’s latest draft forest policy proposes strict control over mining.
But ground reality is entirely different.
The chief minister should intervene before the wildlife habitat is destroyed beyond repair.
Ramgarh Sanctuary is a fresh hope to accommodate the ‘extra’ Ranthambore tigers.Documents in possession with TOI states there are 27 illegal sandstone mines operational on the forest land in Dhorela Gararda, Dasalia, Lambha Koh, Palanka and Dhaneshwar forest blocks of Dabi range.
A forest official source said, “Nowhere in the state is illegal mining taking place on forest land on such a scale.
Last year, Keyhole Markup Language (KML) files of every illegal mine operating on forest land were submitted to the then Head Of Forest Forces (HOFF).
The activities, unhindered by law, is destroying the ecology beyond repair.” Green activists demanded the state government to intervene before its too late.
Tapeshwar Singh Bhati, president of Kota-based Mukundra Hills Environment and Wildlife Society, said between 2019 and 2020, more than 95,000sqm of forest area has been ravaged.
The mining mafia is not just carrying illegal excavation, they are also dumping the waste on forest land disturbing the ecology.
“The issue has been brought to the notice of divisional forest officer (DFO) and ranger, but no action has been taken.
In the last two months, seven complaints have been registered at Rajasthan Sampark portal.
The pleas remain unheard till date,” he added.
Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) were unavailable for comments.
Sources alleged that the mafia was earning in crores of rupees by selling sandstone in European countries.
“It is estimated that sandstones worth Rs 100 crore have been stolen from the state forest resources.
On an average, a mine produces enough stones for 20 trucks,” sources said.
Rampant mining could also prove to be a major setback in declaring the sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
The government had recently approached the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to develop a sanctuary in Bundi as the fourth tiger national park.