Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 5: All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC)-a frontline registered organization of elected PRI members, today said that the border areas are the worst-victim of illegal mining due to the failure of UT administration to curb the malpractice.
“The illegal mining has inflicted the ecology, flora fauna and water bodies of all districts in Jammu and Kashmir. The problem becomes more serious due to inaction on the part of authorities concerned,” Anil Sharma, UT president of AJKPC said while addressing a gathering of elected PRI members in Chowki Choura area of Jammu district.
He said that small water bodies including streams and nallahs in border areas have not been spared by the illegal mining mafia. “This is notwithstanding the fact that locals have been struggling to get minor minerals for construction of small residential structures,” Sharma said, adding that the Government should take a stern action against those indulged in siphoning off public money through illegal mining.
The AJKPC leader said that some vested interests in the administration don’t want self-reliance of the Panchayats. “In July last year, it was decided to grant mining blocks to the Panchayats through short permits to achieve financial empowerment of grassroots democratic institutions in rural pockets but nothing has been done in this direction so far,” said Sharma while accusing the Geology and Mining Department of turning J&K a safe haven for illegal mining syndicate.
The AJKPC leader demanded that the rights of mining blocks within the jurisdiction of concerned Panchayat should be conferred to them so that Panchayats are made self-reliant. “The revenue generated through this process would be utilized for the overall development of the concerned Panchayat. It would not only empower Panchayats financially but also end their dependency on the Government,” he said.
Executive member AJKPC Ramesh Sharma, Ram Saroop Sharma (senior vice president), Sarpanch Baldev Sharma and many others were present on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel