Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Jan 18: Following the complaint of illegal mining in Ravi river and protests from various organizations and residents of Kerrian Gandyal, and related news stories publish in sections of news papers, Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKWRRA) led by its Chairman Pramod Jain along with its members visited Kathua to assess the present situation of water resources at Kerrian Gandyal.
The committee member of JKWRRA which were accompanying the Chairman were Kaneej Fatima, AM Langer, Ravi Mangotra and secretary, Ravi Kant Verma. Officers of District Mining Department, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Department and district administration were also accompanying the Chairman.
The committee listened to various deputations at Dal Banglow Kathua. The deputations highlighted their grievances pertaining to the mining in Ravi river and its negative effects on environment and water resources.
The deputation of Ravi River Action Committee led by Mohinder Pal along with BJP district president, Prem Nath Dogra gave detail reports of illegal mining and its threat to environment. Mohinder Pal said that 31 stone crushers are running at Kerrain Gandyal in Ravi river in which a number of crushers owned by Punjab based people are violating the norms of extraction.
“Instead of three metres, the extraction has gone deep to 100 metres deep, due to which water level has gone down to 50 to 100 metre”, he said, adding, the illegal mining is going on under the nose of concerned departments and the whole material is being sold in neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP and Rajasthan.
Prem Nath Dogra said that the illegal mining in Ravi river poses serious threat to under upcoming Kerrian Gandyal bridge, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs 160 crore. He expressed surprise that the mining is going on just 50 metres near the bridge site whereas the Govt has ban the mining upto 500 meter near any bridge.
The deputation of Stone Crushers’ Association told the committee that nearly 500 people are employment with stone crushers along Ravi river and the Government need not stop functioning of these stone crushers.
JKWRRA chairman gave a patience hearing to deputation and visited the spot to assess the ground situation. He said the committee will take any decision after assessing all the conditions and circumstances leading to mining in Ravi river.
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