Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 14: The illegal mining in Ravi river posses a grave threat to environment and also puts a heavy loss on State exchequer as State is losing crores of rupees annually through the hands of mining mafia.
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Concerned over the illegal mining by mafia groups in river Ravi in Kathua, the people of Kerrina -Gandyal, Bhagthali and Jarai areas held a protest demonstration today as these villages are worst hit by illegal mining which has totally affected the ecology and flora fauna of the area.
The agitated people said that water table in the area has gone down to lowest level and most of the natural water resources turn dry which resulted into shortage of irrigation and drinking water in nearby village of Kerrian-Gandyal, Bhagthali and Jarai areas . The local people are totally worried of such illegal mining going on for years together and no one from State Government takes action to save the environment and also precious building material for future. Though there is a full fledged Mining Department in the State but it failed to put a check on illegal mining in Ravi river as the maximum crushers involved in illegal mining are from Punjab bordering Kathua, they added.
These stone crushers are not only posing threat to environment but also posing heavy loss to State exchequer in shape of huge revenue of mining, Sales Tax, Toll Tax and entry taxes, said the protestors.
The extract coming out from Ravi river is not sold in J&K but in other States on higher rates said BJP district president Prem Nath Dogra. He said that the illegal mining did not spare any corner of Ravi river. Even the mining is also going within 500 metre of bridges which is illegal and was banned by the District Magistrate . The construction work of Kerrian Gandyal bridge is in progress at Ravi river and the illegal mining is also posing threat to bridge as the mining is going on within 500 metre near the bridge, he added .
He alleged that a nexus between stone crusher and Government agencies is operating here openly without any fear. The president of Ravi River Action Committee , Mohinder Pal Sharma said that nearly 30 stone crushers are running in Ravi river and heavy machinery working day and night in the river to extract the building material like stone, sand, and other stone materiel . Due to that the water table has gone down and most of the drinking water resources hand pumps and irrigation resources pump have turned dry.
He said that the Committee noticed the illegal mining and informed the District Mining Department on telephone.
Following the protest and public resentment, District Mining Officer Kathua, Rajinder Singh reached on the spot and tried to pacify the people. He said that the action will be taken against the violators and fine will also be imposed on stone crusher owners. No one will be allowed to extract the material during night hours, he added.
But he did not give satisfactory answer why the heavy machinery is being used and mining within 500 metres of bridge is allowed. He said that some violators have been fined and legal action will also be initiated against others.
It is mentioned here that the neighboring states Punjab and Himachal Pradesh already banned the mining in rivers of the States. But State Government has failed to even control the illegal mining, said the locals.
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