Despite large-scale opposition by the locals there is no let-up in illegal mining in Rakkar area of Kangra district. In present scenario every river and rivulet in Rakkar area is prone to illegal mining as dozen of tippers and tractors are allegedly engaged in the activity. As a result, a number of natural water resources are drying up, water level in local rivulets has gone down, rivers are changing their course leading to floods and fertile land has gone barren.

The Beas passing through Rakkar has emerged as the biggest centre of illegal mining where dozens of tippers and tractors can be seen extracting mining material from the river with the help of JCB machines. The mining mafia has not even spared forest land and illegal routes have also been constructed through forest lands to reach the mining sites. During a visit to Rakkar areas it was seen that there was no proper demarcation of the land leased out for mining by the state government and the mining mafia was extracting raw material from all the rivers and rivulets.

• Surprisingly, the state agencies particularly the mining department has failed to follow the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the state government to earmark the area allotted for mining with flags all around so that no illegal mining is carried out outside the leased area. 
• The illegal mining was controlled by the mining department when this paper highlighted the issue last year. However, after nearly a year mafia has again started its activities which are now in full swing.
• The mining was not being carried on in the leased areas along the Beas as there was no raw material left there.
• Heavy equipment is being used to extract stone and sand from the Beas.
• Most of the mining material from Rakkar is being lifted to Una district and part of Punjab.
• According to the mining department ,only a part of river had been auctioned to a private party and no other person had been authorised by the mining department to extract mining material.