According to Balwan, he found mining activities are being conducted much below the groundwater level at several places. This, he said, has created massive lakes with groundwater filled in them. “In Gudawali and Uttavar villages, mining has continued below the surface level,” Balwan said. “As a result, this has now filled with water, leading to large-scale evaporation of precious and pure groundwater.”

Describing these as “forceful mining”, Balwan said: “The material is being carried to stone crushers. All of it is illegal and in violation of court orders.” Balwan said mining is also on for expensive silica sand — again prohibited by law.

Deola, Mohammadpur, Khandella, Gangaui and Wajjda are among other villages where such illegal mining is going on, Balwan said.