- End of mining session could affect livelihood of thousands

By SHEETAL RAWAT
HALDWANI, 30 Apr: The quarrying of gravel from the river Gaula, Sharda, Kosi and Daabka will end by the month of June after the completion of this session. It will directly affect the life of thousands of people who depend on these rivers for their income, directly or indirectly.
As per the information received, the permission for mining was given by the Indian Government in the year 1999 for the next ten years, which is going to be complete by the end of June. After June, extraction of gravel will not be allowed from these rivers.
For the next session, the permission of the Indian Government is strictly required for mining purposes. Over 25 to 30 thousand people depend entirely on river Gaula for their income. The Forest Department also earns an income of Rs 46 lakhs from this per day. But the validity of the session is going to expire in the month of June.
On the one hand, it will affect the life of thousands of people and, on the other hand, the income of the Forest Department will also get affected by it and it will face heavy losses. The forest department has become alert in this regard and has prepared a proposal to get the permission for mining in these rivers for the next session also.
Specialists of the Water Conservation and Research Centre in Doon had carried out an inspection of the place to give permission for the next session and had already sent a report on this to the Indian Government.