Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Nov 28: The unabated illegal and reckless mining in Ravi river is not only posing a threat to flora and fauna in vast tracks of Kathua region but also endangering safety of under construction Rs 160 crore vital Kerrian Gandyal bridge over the river.
According to sources, despite the protests by the local residents of Kerrian Gandyal at a number of times their voice has goes unheard due to administration and mining mafia nexus running for the years together. As authorities have failed to take cognizance of the same and enforce the ban on illegal mining in the river, the mafia especially from neighboring State of Punjab continued to rule the roost in the area, sources added.
There has been widespread resentment among the locals against the illegal mining as well as against the authorities for their failure in acting against the mafia. The people of the area have protested several times in last one month against the illegal mining and demanded action against the mafia to save their future generations.
Sources said the under construction Kerrian Gandyal bridge is also facing the grave threat and the Minister of R&B, Naeem Akhtar during his visit to Kathua two days back took serious exception to illegal mining in the river near the under construction bridge and issued instructions to concerned agencies to stop it immediately. Despite his instruction, there has been no control on illegal mining in the area forcing the local people to take to streets today also and block Kathua road for half an hour.
Sources said that R&B Department which is supervising the construction of Kerrian Gandyal bridge has written number of letters to Mining Department, Deputy Commissioner Kathua and other concerned officers to stop the illegal mining but to no avail.
Executive Engineer ,R&B Kathua Ram Paul said that the Department has approached the concerned agencies to get the illegal mining stopped in the river as it can cause a threat to the bridge also if not checked. He said even the Department has approached police too in this regard.
Sources said that only three meter mining is allowed in the river and that too during day time in case the Geology and Mining Department issues permission for that. But the mafia groups who mostly belonged to neighboring State used heavy machinery including Shovels, bulldozers and GCBs in extracting the boulders, sand and gravel from the river by digging the bed from 30 meters to 40 meters with the result the water level in entire Kerrian Gandyal area has depleted 100 feet below and the hand pumps dug by the locals for getting drinking water have turned dry now.
This has been a great cause of concern for the people of the area, who said, that in case no check is maintained on the illegal mining in the river they will perish.
Sources said people in the area are concerned for their survival as being a rich rice bowel, the irrigation facilities have also been affected with the depletion of the water level in the area affecting the crop production as well as having serious consequences on the environment.
Perturbed over the stoic silence maintained by the authorities against the mafia and illegal mining the irate people of Kerrian Gandyal under the banner of Ravi River Action Committee held a protest demonstration in front of DC office Kathua today also and raised slogans against the authorities and mining mafia. The irate people including men and women blocked Kathua road for half an hour.
This is for the second time in last over 10 days that the people of the area came to streets and protested against the illegal mining. The protestors said that there are clusters of crushers across the river and they use their men and machinery for extracting material from the river bed by digging it haphazardly as down as they like.
They also raised slogans against the Mining Department and demanded that no auction for mining be held on December 4 as it will lead to serious consequences. The protest was held under the leadership of Ravi River Action Committee, president, Mohinder Pal. He said even the mining is taking place within 500 meters of the bridge especially during night hours.
When contacted, District Mining Officer, Rajinder Kumar said that the Department has stopped auction in Ravi area and only auction on December 4 will be held for one block of Tarnah river, two blocks of Charkhad and 19 blocks in Beni river in Billawar.
He said auction and permission for mining is only given after conducting proper survey and the Department constitutes the team for the same and the bidder has to get the clearance from the other concerned departments also.
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