The illegal stone chip mining and rampant felling of trees pose a serious threat to the ecosystem and natural balance of the district. According to sources, as many as 100 stone chip units operating across the foothills are continuously damaging the mountains for their own benefits. Every day, more than three dozen small and big trucks loaded with stone chips head towards crusher mills. The timber mafia operating in the district is also wrecking havoc on the green park.

According to geologists and environmentalists, if the misuse of the mountainous sources continue unabated like this, the hills may face massive landslides and soil erosion in the near future. The life span of the mountains is shrinking fast owing to mining of stone chips, they pointed out. When contacted District Mining Officer, Madan Mohan Sinha said due to dearth of manpower, it is not possible to check illegal mining.

He informed that there are over 200 points in the district where illegal mining usually takes place. The Mining Department alone cannot keep a vigil on these points; the Government should also involve the Forest Department and SDMs in checking the illegal mining, only then fruitful results can be expected. I have written letters to SDM Garhwa, Ranka and Nagar Untari for cooperating with us in checking illegal mining, he added.

He admitted that about 20 illegal crusher mills are running in the district. Garhwa Deputy Commissioner, Rajeshwari B said that she would constitute a task force and prepare an action plan to curb illegal mining. Sources informed that the Government authorities allow stone crushers to crush the existing stock. About 100 crushers are used for illegal mining in the district, allegedly in connivance with the mining authorities. Apart from this, the State exchequer too is losing royalty to the tune of crores of rupees every year.