Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting various issues relating to River Tawi, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmed and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey has directed SSP Jammu to consider the possibility of installation of CCTV cameras to check illegal mining in Tawi.
When the PIL filed by Advocate Dewakar Sharma came up for hearing, Division Bench observed, “the status report submitted on behalf of the Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu does not provide a complete answer to the issues which were raised in the order dated 01.11.2017”, adding “this is particularly with regard to the installation of two additional check posts. The counsel appearing on behalf of the Geology and Mining Department has categorically stated that insofar as the River Tawi is concerned, the extraction of any minor minerals or other materials is completely banned”.
“It is obvious that any extraction that is taking place is illegal. The material extracted is transported in vehicles. It is difficult to understand as to why the vehicles whether they are trucks or the other vehicles are permitted to go onto the river bed for the purposes of extraction and that the only vehicles which are seized are those which are carrying the extracted material”, DB said, adding “this obviously points to the deficiency in policing”.
“Several approaches can be undertaken, for example, installation of CCTV cameras on the entry and the exit points. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu shall identify the entry and exit points and consider the possibility of setting up CCTV cameras connected to a nearby control room”, the DB directed.
Division Bench further observed that a direction was also given for eviction of all the encroachers who have already been identified. “The affidavit does not give us a clear picture with regard to that as such a detailed compliance report shall be filed within three weeks”, the DB added.
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