Does the Poonch administration collaborate with the mining mafia? Deputy Commissioner’s order has no value

Does the Poonch administration collaborate with the mining mafia? Deputy Commissioner’s order has no value

POONCH TODAY NEWS

POONCH: The issue of illegal mining remained in the news for years, but not a single strong action has been taken against the mining mafia due to the open involvement of successive DMOs and the higher officers of the Poonch administration. The September 2014 flood and the recent August 2025 flood caused huge devastation in various districts of the J&K UT, and illegal mining activities are said to be one of the major reasons that led to flood-related disasters in many areas of the J&K UT.

Many orders were issued by the Poonch administration over the years, but not a single one has yet been implemented on the ground, because the concerned officers used to get their share regularly from those involved in illegal mining. Shockingly, some local media persons also remained involved with the mining officials, as they used to get a regular share for not publishing news because this mafia used to earn several lakhs to crores every year, and this gave some tainted officers, a few self-styled activists, and some blackmailers in the media field enough opportunity to earn regular money from those involved in this trade. Illegal mining activities are seen at different places across the district, but not a single action has been taken against this high-profile mafia. Police officials used to check the activities of illegal mining once in a blue moon as a formality, because some police officials also remained hand in glove with the mining mafia. This powerful mining mafia, of which successive DMOs and some media persons remained part and parcel, has spread its tentacles almost in every area of the district. This mafia is so powerful that even the orders of Deputy Commissioner Poonch have no value on the ground. Despite a prohibitory order no. DMP/J/9139-43 dated 20-08-2025 under section 163 BNSS issued by Deputy Commissioner Poonch, the mining activities were still going on up to the time of filing this report. In the order, the administration has admitted that the mining activities were going on at different places in the district, and such activities not only violate the law but also cause serious damage to the environment, ecology, and riverbeds, thereby threatening public safety, damaging public infrastructure, and disturbing the natural flow of water. In the order, the administration admitted that the illegal mining within 500 meters upstream and downstream of the vital installations poses grave danger to bridges, embankments, irrigation canals, drinking water sources, and other vital installations. Despite such an order issued by the district administration of Poonch, it’s surprising that mining activities have been going on openly without any action from the administration. It’s a clear indication that the DMO Poonch and other important officers of the administration are involved in this high-profile trade of illegal mining with the help of a few blackmailers in the media field. The condition of Nangali Sahib Bridge is a clear-cut example of illegal mining, as the said bridge was damaged during the 2014 floods because huge illegal mining was noticed regularly within 50 meters of the said bridge. Even after eleven years of that flood, the Nangali Sahib Bridge is still in the same condition. Despite knowing a number of side effects of illegal mining, the district administration is least interested in taking strong action against this illegal trade other than issuing an order just as a formality because a number of officials of the administration, DMO Poonch, some self-styled activists, and a few media persons earn their regular money from this trade. As the office of Deputy Commissioner Poonch has become a fictional entity in tackling such issues strongly on the ground, it’s high time for the government to take stern action from the top against this illegal mining mafia by breaking this nexus in which some officials, businessmen, a few activists, and some media persons are involved. The continued activities of the illegal mining mafia at different places of the district in violation of the law are posing a great danger to the lives, properties, and several areas of the district.