Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 22: Expressing concern over alleged large scale illegal stone and sand mining going on in Balol Nallah, adjoining to SIDCO Industrial Complex at Bari Brahmana, Bari Brahmana Industries Association (BBIA) has urged the Chief Minister (CM) Omar Abdullah and Minister of State for Industries, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo to intervene personally for stoppage of illegal mining.
In a meeting of the Association held here today under the presidentship of Annil Suri, the speakers expressed grave concern over the grave danger being posed to Flood Protection Bund of SIDCO due to large scale illegal mining in Balol Nallah, which is still continuing.
Later, a team of BBIA along with Estate Manager, SIDCO, Bari Brahmana, Ajit Singh and officials of the civil wing visited the mining site and observed that there is every possibility of the breach in the Protection Bund in near future due to large scale extraction of sand and stone from the Nallah.
They also observed that Railway bridge is also in great danger due to deep mining. They expressed fear that extensive damage may be done to protection Bund and Railway bridge in case of heavy rains in coming Monsoon season, which may further pose threat to Industrial Complex and precious human lives living in Bari Brahmana Industrial Town.
The speakers said though the matter had been brought into the knowledge of Commissioner/Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department and Director, Geology and Mining, through written communication in August 2012, but no action was taken so far by district administration to stop illegal activities of the Sand Mafia, which the speakers alleged is running the work with the active support of concerned Government officials.
They urged the CM Omar Abdullah and Minister of State for Industries, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo to intervene into the matter for immediate stoppage of illegal mining in the interest of units located in Industrial Complex.
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