Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, July 7: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Samba, Rohit Khajuria today chaired a meeting of officers regarding the fixation of rates of River Bed Materials (RBM) in the district.
The DC said that the purpose for fixation of sale rates of the RBM is to ensure that the public does not suffer due to overcharging.
At the meeting officers of Irrigation and Flood Control Department raised the issue of disturbance to ecosystem and embankment of water bodies due to extraction. They called for carrying the extraction without disturbing ecosystem and disturbance of water flow path, which leads to flood like situation.
The DC stressed on adopting a modern scientific approach for extraction of minerals so that the ecosystem of the river is not affected due to extraction and to make the process sustainable.
He said the permission may be granted to ensure early extraction of minerals so that government works does not affected owing to the shortage of raw material. However, he directed the department of geology and mining to strictly follow the guidelines and take care of all the technical suggestions given by the Irrigation and Flood Control departments.
The DC directed the concerned to strictly adhere to the rates to be finalised in the next meeting and directed the concerned officers to conduct a detailed market survey to ascertain the market rate before the next meeting. He also made it clear that any violation in terms of the sale rate of RBM shall be dealt seriously and strict action as per rules shall be taken against the violators.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Sidharath Dhiman, Assistant Commissioner Development, Sub Divisional Magistrate Ghagwal and Vijaypur, district officers from Department of Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC), Department of Roads and Buildings and Mineral department, besides other concerned.