📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Deccantrap
Crime
Villagers in Alirajpur demand technical probe into 8-year illegal mining on govt land
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 15 Sep 2026, 06:01 PM
👁 9
Residents of Alirajpur district have lodged a complaint with the collector, seeking a technical investigation into alleged illegal stone mining on government land that has been ongoing for eight years.
The district administration of Alirajpur received a written petition from a group of villagers alleging that stone extraction has been carried out on government-owned land for the past eight years without any legal permission. The complainants claim that the activity has caused environmental degradation and loss of public resources.
In the petition, the residents have asked the collector to order a detailed technical inspection of the site, including soil sampling and satellite mapping, to establish the extent of the illegal operation. They also urged the authorities to form a high‑level committee that can oversee the investigation and recommend corrective action.
The collector’s office has not yet issued a formal response, but officials indicated that the matter will be forwarded to the district mining inspectorate for preliminary verification. If the allegations are confirmed, the illegal mining could attract penalties under the Madhya Pradesh Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act.
Local NGOs have expressed support for the villagers, noting that similar illegal extraction activities have been reported in other parts of the state. They emphasized the need for transparent monitoring to prevent further encroachment on public land.
In the petition, the residents have asked the collector to order a detailed technical inspection of the site, including soil sampling and satellite mapping, to establish the extent of the illegal operation. They also urged the authorities to form a high‑level committee that can oversee the investigation and recommend corrective action.
The collector’s office has not yet issued a formal response, but officials indicated that the matter will be forwarded to the district mining inspectorate for preliminary verification. If the allegations are confirmed, the illegal mining could attract penalties under the Madhya Pradesh Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act.
Local NGOs have expressed support for the villagers, noting that similar illegal extraction activities have been reported in other parts of the state. They emphasized the need for transparent monitoring to prevent further encroachment on public land.