Millions of people worship Godessess Durga. Such is the impression of Durga in our psyche that our former Prime Minister Shri Vajpayee was supposed to have compared Smt. Indira Gandhi as Maa Durga for her role in liberating Bangladesh in the 1971 war with Pakistan. However, Durga Shakti Nagpal, a 28 year old 2009 batch IAS officer posted as Sub Divisional Magistrate in Gautam Budh Nagar has been suspended for her Durga-like strong willed action against the mining mafia.

Though it was her first posting, she had formed a number of flying squads to conduct raids on daily basis to put an end to the illegal mining in the Yamuna and Hindon rivers in western UP.

It should be noted that illegal sand mining is destroying the river beds, stops the ability for water to percolate and kills the river. World Bank has said that the biggest threat to the growth of India's economy is the availability of water. Rampant sand mining in the river beds in various parts of the country is resulting in many rivers becoming sick and dying and will ensure that our population face enormous hardships due to water. Water wars can't be far behind.

If committed officers like Durga Shakti Nagpal are penalised by the Government, then there won't be many officers who will apply the rule of law. As concerned citizens it would be appropriate to raise your voice and write to:
Shri Akhilesh Yadav
Hon'ble Chief Minister of UP
Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan,
Lucknow,226001
Email :
Office Phone : +91 522 2239296
+91 522 2236181
Office Fax : +91 522 2239234

Chief Secretary of UP
Shri Jawed Usmani
Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh
Cadre : UP/ IAS:1978
State / UT : : Uttar Pradesh
Email : cs-uttarpradesh@nic.in
Office Phone : +91 522 2221599
+91 522 2238212
Office Fax : +91 522 2239283