Pathankot Struggles to Contain Illegal Mining Trucks from J&K and HP

Pathankot Battles Influx of Illegal Mining Trucks from J&K, Himachal Pradesh

Pathankot, the northernmost district of Punjab, is currently facing an escalating challenge in the form of illegal mining trucks entering its territory from neighboring Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Himachal Pradesh (HP). With its strategic border location, Pathankot has become a vulnerable gateway for unauthorized sand and gravel mining operations, putting both the environment and law enforcement under significant strain.

A Cross-Border Challenge

Sources from the district administration reveal that hundreds of trucks carrying illegally mined materials often enter without proper documentation, evading taxes and violating Punjab’s mining and transport regulations. These trucks primarily carry riverbed materials like sand, gravel, and bajri, extracted from rivers like Ravi and Ujh across the border.

Officials believe many of these operations are controlled by well-organized mining mafias, who exploit weak inter-state coordination and under-resourced border monitoring posts to push their trucks into Punjab, especially under cover of night.

Impact on Environment and Infrastructure

Illegal mining has led to riverbank erosion, water table depletion, and damage to bridges and roads. With trucks frequently overloaded beyond legal limits, the district’s rural roads are deteriorating, posing a serious risk to commuters and increasing the maintenance burden on local authorities.

Environmental experts warn that continuous sand extraction without regulation threatens aquatic biodiversity, destabilizes the ecological balance, and disrupts the natural course of rivers.

Government Response and Crackdown

In response, the Pathankot district administration has ramped up its vigilance with joint check-posts, night patrolling, and drone surveillance. However, officers admit that enforcement remains a cat-and-mouse game due to the uncoordinated regulatory frameworks between Punjab and its neighboring states.

Punjab’s Mining Department has also issued directives to suspend entry of trucks without digital transit passes (e-Ravans) and has called on the J&K and HP governments to collaborate on real-time data sharing and cross-border mining regulation.

Local Voices and Political Heat

Local residents and environmental activists have raised concerns over the political protection allegedly offered to illegal operators, urging the state government to take stricter legal action. The issue has also sparked political debates, with opposition leaders accusing the ruling party of negligence and turning a blind eye to illegal activities that hurt both the local economy and ecosystem.

The Way Forward

Experts suggest that resolving this issue will require:

• Unified digital tracking of mining trucks across state lines.

• Stricter inter-state agreements on mining policy.

• Increased budget for local enforcement units.

• Public participation through reporting apps and hotlines.