Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Oct 1: A Vigilance team from Jammu assisted by local police today conducted raid in the office of District Mineral Officer (DMO) Kathua and about a score of stone crushers, mainly operating along river Ravi and seized the record.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a Vigilance team from Jammu led by an officer of the rank of DySP paid surprise visit to the office of District Mineral Officer, Kathua and seized record pertaining to recoveries of revenue pertaining to minor mineral (sand/ stones) from river Ravi, Ujh, Tarnah and other streams and nallahs in the district.
The SVO had information that many stone crushers in Kathua were not paying revenue to the G&M department but their electricity bills revealed that they were operating almost round the clock, thus depriving the Government of its revenue. There was steep fall in the revenue of the department in the district during past two years also.
Sources said that after seizure of record from DMO office, then the team moved to Lakhanpur from where it assisted by SHO and some cops, the team raided about a score of stone crushers and seized their record as well. After completion of the task, the team returned to Jammu late in the evening, the sources added.
Meanwhile, the sources said that Deputy Commissioner, Kathua Rohit Khajuria suspended an official of the DMO office Kathua for violation in river Ravi near Keedian- Gandyal bridge. The DC received complaint and also a video regarding extraction of minor-mineral near the bridge, by using JCB by some contractors. This bridge worth Rs 167 crore is nearing completion. The DC ordered immediate suspension of concerned official, Kuldip Kumar.
A senior Vigilance official when contacted said that it was routine inspection by the Vigilance team at Kathua DMO office and other locations. After receiving some complaints the team went there and after completion of task and collecting some record just returned. He refused to share more information and maintained after scrutiny of record the things will be clear.
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