How sand mafia diverted the Yamuna river flow in Sonipat

Unregulated sand mining in Asadpur village of Haryana’s Sonipat district has diverted the Yamuna river from its natural course, according to a field inspection report submitted by the state irrigation and water resources department. The report, compiled on May 22 by a four-member team, found widespread illegal mining despite environmental laws and National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, a TOI report stated.

The team, led by superintending engineer R K Bodwal and including executive engineers Ashish Kaushik and Gulshan Kumar, along with sub-divisional officer Himanshu, discovered that licensed firms were operating far beyond permitted zones. The inspection found heavy machinery was being used directly in the flowing stream of the Yamuna.

Illegal paths and lack of markers

In a letter to the chief engineer of Yamuna Water Services (South) in New Delhi, the officials noted that the illegal activity had created several unauthorised access paths. The communication, accessed by The Times of India, said, “Several unauthorised paths have been created and the river's natural flow has been diverted to facilitate illegal extraction.”


The report further highlighted the lack of boundary pillars on the site. Officials said this made it difficult to confirm whether the mining activity was taking place within legally sanctioned limits.

FIR filed against licence holder

Officials in the irrigation department and the Sonipat deputy commissioner’s office confirmed the communication. Following the findings, the Haryana State Enforcement Bureau registered a case late Saturday against the company holding the sand mining licence in the area. The company has been accused of large-scale violations within the Yamuna riverbed.

Political angle emerges

The matter has drawn political reactions. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala criticised Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini over the issue. He said, “… at least show some respect to Kanha's (Lord Krishna's) Yamuna.”

A senior official from the department said there is growing demand for suspension of mining operations and action against those involved in violations of multiple laws. These include the Environment Protection Act, the Mines and Minerals Act, NGT orders prohibiting the use of machines for sand extraction, and other sand mining guidelines.