The Silent Cry of Rajmahal Hills

 

The Silent Cry of Rajmahal Hills
By Ashok Karan

ashokkaran.blogspot.com

While travelling through the remote stretches of the Rajmahal Hills in Sahebganj district, Jharkhand, I was struck with dismay. What greeted my eyes was not the pristine beauty of nature, but the scars of unchecked stone crushing and quarrying. Once a natural marvel, the hills are now rapidly losing their identity to the booming construction industry.

The hills—rich in geological heritage—are being mined relentlessly to produce building materials, including the widely used "Pakur Chips". As shared by journalist Brajesh Verma ji, these chips are extensively used in Jharkhand, Bihar, and parts of West Bengal, especially in railway and road infrastructure projects.

But behind this development lies a deeper concern: the existential threat to the indigenous Suriya Paharia community, classified as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG). For generations, they have lived in harmony with nature—depending on mixed farming, forest produce, and mountain streams. Now, they find their way of life disintegrating due to the regular blasting of hills, which causes intense vibrations, air pollution, and even rocks falling dangerously close to their homes.

Villages like Alwa, Amjola, Gurmi, Pangdo, Dhokuti, Bekchuri, and Malto are scattered across the hills, each home to sparse but resilient populations. In Malto village alone, about 30 Suriya Paharia households are struggling to cope with drying streams, falling groundwater tables, and shrinking forest resources.

One elderly tribal man shared, “Living near the hills was once a matter of pride. Now it’s a daily struggle.”

What’s even more alarming is the ecological and scientific significance of the Rajmahal Hills. Experts believe these hills, stretching over 2,600 sq. km, date back between 68 to 118 million years, making them among the oldest in India—next perhaps only to the Aravallis. Rich fossil deposits embedded in these hills are invaluable for scientific research, yet remain under threat due to rampant mining.

Despite some government initiatives to preserve the fossil heritage, the region remains overwhelmed by mining activity. In Sahebganj district alone, there are around 180 legal mines and over 450 stone crushers—with widespread concerns about illegal operations.

This isn't just a tribal issue. It's an environmental crisis. Once a hill or mountain is destroyed, it’s lost forever. No amount of reconstruction or compensation can bring it back.

As I journeyed through the Rajmahal range, I saw not just machines and crushers, but a silent warning: if we continue to exploit our natural heritage so mercilessly, the cost will be unbearable for future generations.

Let us not wait until it’s too late.

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In Pictures:

1.     Rajmahal Hills stripped bare by mining.

2.     Stone crushers at work in the Rajmahal region.

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📷 & ✍️ Text and Photos by Ashok Karan
🔗 ashokkaran.blogspot.com

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#RajmahalHills #TribalRights #EnvironmentalJustice #FossilHeritage #StopIllegalMining #SuriyaPaharia #SustainableDevelopment #Jharkhand #SaveOurHills #EcoCrisis #VoiceForNature #AshokKaranReports

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