Nuh police on high alert after explosion at Aravalli hillock

Nuh police are on high alert after a blast linked to illegal mining in the Aravalli range. Investigations reveal leaseholders from Rajasthan may be responsible.

Updated on: Jan 2, 2025, 09:59:28 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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The Nuh police have been placed on high alert following a blast in Rava village on the Haryana-Rajasthan border, where the mining mafia allegedly detonated a hillock in the protected Aravalli range on December 17. Officials said explosives were used to dismantle the hillock, raising concerns about illegal mining activities in the ecologically sensitive region.

The explosion at the hillock, (HT Photo)

Superintendent of police (SP) Vijay Pratap Singh said that a case was registered on December 23 by the Haryana State Mining Department under sections 21(1) and 303(2) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. “Initial investigations suggest leaseholders from Rajasthan were responsible for the blast, and there is no evidence of illegal mining in Haryana’s jurisdiction,” Singh added. He noted that confusion arises due to unclear demarcation of the area, which should have been reported earlier by the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and mining department.

Authorities discovered that nearly 6,000 metric tonnes of stone had been extracted from an area measuring 200 metres by 10 metres and 2 metres deep. Singh said, “We have intensified surveillance, deploying night patrolling teams, capturing photographic evidence, and video recording suspected sites twice a day to prevent further unauthorised activities.”

Police said the investigation was prompted by a site inspection conducted by district mining officer Anil Kumar, mining inspector Bhanu Pratap Singh, and mining guard Rakesh Kumar on December 16-17 of last year.

Kumar, meanwhile, said that the excavated area was linked to license holders from Rajasthan’s Nangla village, Tehsil Pahari, in Deeg. The operators allegedly encroached on Haryana’s territory for unauthorised mining. Kumar emphasised the importance of strict patrolling along the border to protect Haryana’s natural resources.

The incident was inspected by mining officials on December 16-17, and the subsequent FIR includes GPS-tagged photographs sent to senior officials for action. Commissioner and secretary to the Haryana Government Mines and Geology Department, TL Satyaprakash, expressed grave concern, calling the incident “extremely discrediting.” He directed the department to collaborate with the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) for geospatial assessment and volumetric analysis of mining activities in Nuh and Ferozepur Jhirka.

Satyaprakash further requested an assessment report from HARSAC within 15 days to determine the extent of unauthorised activities and strengthen future regulations. “These incidents tarnish the department’s reputation. Collaboration with district administration will ensure smoother operations and immediate interventions,” he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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