Controversy has erupted over desilting operations being carried out in the Sutlej river near the bridge at Agampur village in Ropar district, with local residents alleging that the activity is illegal mining being undertaken under the guise of river management. The issue escalated on Monday evening when villagers opposing the excavation clashed with people engaged in the desilting work, leaving one person injured.
Residents of nearby Harsa Bela village have strongly objected to the excavation in the riverbed, claiming that the ongoing activity could alter the natural course of the Sutlej and threaten agricultural land and flood safety structures in the area. They further alleged that heavy machinery is being used to extract material from the riverbed for commercial sale to stone crushers in violation of environmental regulations and National Green Tribunal (NGT) directions.
Tension flared on Monday evening when a group of Harsa Bela residents gathered at the site to oppose the excavation work. During the confrontation, Parminder Singh, a resident of Harsa Bela, was injured. He was first admitted to the Civil Hospital, Nangal, and later referred to the Civil Hospital, Ropar, for further treatment.
The sarpanch of Harsa Bela village, Ranjit Kaur, alleged that the desilting operations were being carried out in the same revenue khasra numbers where such activities had earlier been prohibited by NGT. She claimed that Poclain machines were being extensively used for excavation and the extracted material was being transported out of the riverbed and sold illegally to crushers.
“When villagers tried to stop the operations, those involved attacked us. The panchayat has lodged a police complaint in the matter,” she said.
The sarpanch further questioned the official justification behind the operation. “If the purpose is only to protect the bridge pillars, why is the material being removed and transported out of the river? The people involved are digging up a natural ridge in the river, which acts as a protective barrier for our village during floods,” she alleged.
Villagers fear that disturbing the natural formations inside the river could weaken flood defences and increase the risk of erosion and inundation during the monsoon season. Residents also expressed concern that large-scale excavation could alter the river’s flow towards agricultural land and inhabited areas.
However, the mining department has defended the desilting operation, asserting that the work is being undertaken scientifically and in accordance with government policy.
Executive Engineer, Mining, Anandpur Sahib, Bhavuk Sharma, said the desilting proposal had been approved by State Technical Advisory Committee and was being executed in coordination with Public Works Department (PWD).
He maintained that the activity was necessary to safeguard the bridge structure during the monsoon season. According to Sharma, the river’s current flow pattern exerts excessive pressure on a single bridge pillar during periods of high discharge.
“The desilting is being carried out scientifically by local farmers as per the approved government policy. During the monsoon, increased water flow exerts pressure mainly on one pillar of the bridge. The effort is to redistribute the water pressure towards other pillars to protect the structure,” he said.
The controversy has once again highlighted the sensitive issue of riverbed mining and desilting in Punjab, where environmental concerns frequently clash with infrastructure protection and flood management requirements. With the monsoon season approaching, the dispute is expected to intensify further.