Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Feb 12: Following the complaints from various quarters a joint team of Geology and Mining Department seized four stone crushers running illegally in Ujh river Basin at Pandoori and Korepunnu area of Kathua district today.
The joint team led by Joint Director Geology and Mining Department, Ashwani Kumar Sharma, DMO Kathua Rajinder Singh Bandral and police team raided at various locations in Pandoori and Korepunnu. Four stone crushers running illegally were sealed by the Department when the stone crusher owner failed to produce documents of permission. These stone crushers were put under Government seal and stamp.
The team also found a Poke lane and a heavy JCB busy in extraction of material from Ujh river within 500 meter of Pandoori bridge.
The JCB was also seized by Department. The DMO, Kathua, Rajinder Singh Bandral said that the complaints of illegal mining were received by Department and legal action of sealing of four stone crushers was taken out by the Department. He said that the mining is so far banned in the area and some stone crushers were working illegally. They were booked under law. It is mentioned here that one dozen stone crushers have already been sealed in the drive against illegal mining in the Kathua district.
A deputation in this connection of illegal mining also met with Deputy Commissioner Kathua, OP Bhagat and apprised him about the illegal mining in Ravi and Ujh rivers despite the ban on mining imposed by Government.
Meanwhile, a deputation of stone crushers owner led by Sarveshwar Sharma met with DC Kathua OP Bhagat and apprised him about discriminating attitude adopted by the Geology and Mining Department to seize the stone crushers. The deputation said that some selected stone crushers were seized by the Department but some stone crushers are running during the night hours in river Ujh, Ravi and Tarnah under the noose of Mining Department. They alleged that the Department has taken action only against selective stone crushers. The numbers of dumpers loaded with extracted material is moving to Punjab area via Madhopur from Ravi river. Its clears that illegal mining and illegal functioning of stone crushers is frequently going on in Ravi and Ujh rivers which area closely connected with boundaries of Punjab, they added.
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