Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Feb 2: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) expressed serious concern over the mushroom growth of stone crushers from Punjab in Ravi basin in Kathua district and demanded immediate ban on the same as illegal mining in the Ravi has led to the pollution in the area besides depletion of water level also.
The State Government should immediately swung into action and remove all the illegal crushers from Punjab established in Ravi basin, BSP senior leader Som Raj Majotra told reporters here, today.
He said for last 10 years there has been no check from the Geology and Mining Department of the State Government over illegal mining in the area and hundreds of crushers by Punjab were established in the Ravi basin in Kathua belt and the administration looked as a mute spectator.
He said about 400 stone crushers from Punjab are lying in the belt on the territory of J&K while only 30 crushers are from J&K. This is a cause of concern, he added.
He also appealed the environmentalist to look into the problem as the mushrooming stone crushers has led to health hazards in the near by villages.
Alleging that there exists a nexus between mine mafia from Punjab and politicians of that State, he said the J&K Government should swung into action for the betterment of its people. He said the stone crusher owners sell the bajri to people of State on exorbitant rates. They have developed a good market in the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, he added.
He said the callousness of the Government is so grave that the District Mining Officer is enjoying his positing in Kathua district for last over one decade as he is well connected with higher ups in the administration and the Department.
The BSP leader has also sought the immediate intervention of Governor N N Vohra in the matter.
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