Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 7: Former Vice Chairman JAKFED and All Morcha Incharge, Munish Sharma along with Daljeet Singh Aithmian States spokesperson BJYM today met District Mining Officer, Ankur Sachdeva of Geology & Mining Department and highlighted the issues of prolonged ban on extraction and lifting of key construction raw material including stones, sand, etc in Jammu district which affected the developmental activities in private and public sector badly.
Munish Sharma held detailed discussion, with DMO, Ankur Sachdeva and demanded the granting of permission for sand extraction immediately, so that the closed Jammu based crusher units are made functional and livelihood of thousands of people should not suffer as they have been adversely affected and are solely dependent on this business.
In the meeting, Sharma apprised the DMO, that delegations and Association from different parts of Jammu met him and sought help for resumption of mining activities. Sharma urged the DMO that they should be allowed to go for extraction and lifting of raw material in their respective areas to sustain their livelihood. Hundreds of families are used to earn their livelihood from stone quarrying. From the past four months, sand extraction has totally stopped and they are facing severe problems.
Expressing concern over illegal mining of sand and stone in Jammu region he emphasized the need for a revised policy on Geology and Mining activities in J&K. Mining Department needs to check the illegal mining and should adopt zero tolerance approach against the violators and take legal action against violators.
DMO assured that the demands and issues put forth by the All Morcha Incharge, Munish Sharma would be looked into meticulously and redressed at the earliest.
Ankur Sachdeva said that the E-auction of minor minerals has been done by Geology and Mining Department. Now the NOC by Forest, PHE, Flood Control, Irrigation, Fisheries, Revenue, Pollution Control Board are pending. Environmental clearance by SEIAA (State Environment Impact Assessment Authority) is also pending.
Moreover, Mining Plan has been approved by the District Committee and four blocks have been approved. One block at Jourian Jad Khad, only NOC is pending from the Fisheries Department. Ankur Sachdeva assured Sharma that as soon as the departments issues NOC mining will be started and department is hopeful that mining activity is expected to resume in a week’s time.
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