📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Dhruvlemagne
Agriculture
Farmers Begin Dharna Over Alleged Sand Mining in Satluj, Ludhiana
✍️ Amar Ujala · Ludhiana
🗓 20 Sep 2026, 06:01 PM
👁 14
Farmers in Ludhiana have launched a dharna on the banks of the Satluj River, accusing illegal sand mining operations of harming the river and their lands.
A group of farmers gathered on the Satluj Riverbank near Ludhiana on Monday, staging a dharna to protest what they describe as illegal sand mining in the waterway. The protesters claim that unregulated extraction of sand is causing erosion, lowering water levels and damaging agricultural fields that depend on the river for irrigation.
The farmers have submitted a written complaint to the district administration, demanding an immediate halt to the mining activities and a thorough investigation by the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the police. They also seek compensation for the loss of fertile soil and assurance that future mining, if permitted, will follow environmental guidelines.
Local authorities said they are aware of the farmers' concerns and have dispatched officials to inspect the alleged mining sites. The police have not yet made any arrests, but have promised to enforce existing regulations on sand extraction.
The protest is expected to continue until the government provides a clear response. Community leaders have urged the state government to balance the demand for construction sand with the need to protect river ecosystems and agricultural livelihoods.
The dharna reflects growing tensions in Punjab over natural resource exploitation, with similar farmer-led actions reported in other river basins across the state.
The farmers have submitted a written complaint to the district administration, demanding an immediate halt to the mining activities and a thorough investigation by the Punjab Pollution Control Board and the police. They also seek compensation for the loss of fertile soil and assurance that future mining, if permitted, will follow environmental guidelines.
Local authorities said they are aware of the farmers' concerns and have dispatched officials to inspect the alleged mining sites. The police have not yet made any arrests, but have promised to enforce existing regulations on sand extraction.
The protest is expected to continue until the government provides a clear response. Community leaders have urged the state government to balance the demand for construction sand with the need to protect river ecosystems and agricultural livelihoods.
The dharna reflects growing tensions in Punjab over natural resource exploitation, with similar farmer-led actions reported in other river basins across the state.