JAIPUR: For 17 years, the villagers of Nimaj in Jaitaran tehsil of Pali district , who are largely farmers and cattle breeders, have fought to stop illegal mining in their pasture land with little success. The administration, local legislators and the police have been of no help as the hills of Nimaj began vanishing quickly.The loss of pasture land for cattle, their major source of livelihood, has had an overall impact on economy and environment.In the latest of letters written by villagers to the tehsildar, dated January 31, 2017, they had demanded removal of encroachments on government land and prevent illegal mining that was destroying 'charagah' (meadow) land.Over the years, similar letters have been sent by gram panchayat samitis to the then district administration to no avail. The villagers of Kheda Devgarh in Pali too have been requesting the administration to check illegal mining on 2,360 bighas and 18 biswa of common 'charagah' land used by the entire village to graze their goats. Besides fodder, the common land is significant as it contributes to villagers' income, creates employment opportunities, improves micro-climate and environmental conditions."This 'charagah' land was very well preserved till illegal mining for stone began. The nearly 2,500 bighas support a population of 25,000 villagers who are essentially Gujjars,"said Harsh, a local businessman, who has been taking up the issue of villagers with the administration since 2000.

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