Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia has alleged that illegal sand mining is taking place along the Ravi river in Malakpur village of the Ajnala area, accusing the Punjab government of failing to protect the state’s rivers.In a post on X on September 18, Majithia claimed that Poclain machines were being used to excavate the Ravi riverbed, despite what he described as restrictions imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Calling the alleged activity a “daylight loot of the Ravi,” Majithia questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the situation and asked whether such activity represented the government’s vision of “Rangla Punjab.”Majithia also linked the allegation to the political constituency of former Punjab minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, saying that after what he described as a similar controversy at Kot Raizada, illegal mining had now allegedly surfaced in Malakpur.
He further questioned who was benefiting from the alleged mining activity and accused the government of allowing Punjab’s river resources to be exploited.The allegations come amid continuing scrutiny of illegal mining in Punjab. On September 17, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed state authorities to ensure that illegal mining does not take place in Jalandhar, Moga and Ludhiana districts and called for appropriate legal action where violations are found.
The NGT has also recently sought an action-taken report from the Punjab government regarding allegations of illegal mining in Ropar district, highlighting continuing regulatory concerns over mining activity in the state.
Separately, the Punjab Water Resources Department has extended the deadline for desilting and restoration work at 99 sites across 14 districts until September 30, amid continuing concerns surrounding riverbed operations and mining.
Majithia’s allegations regarding Malakpur and the Ravi river now require verification by the relevant Punjab authorities, including whether the machines shown or referred to were operating under any authorised desilting, restoration or mining activity and whether all applicable environmental and tribunal orders were being followed.
The Punjab government and officials concerned have yet to publicly respond to Majithia’s specific allegations in the material reviewed for this report.