Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Apr 5: Following the public outcry in the area over the illegal mining and threat caused to environment, the District Development Commis-sioner, Kathua, Rohit Khajuria has imposed total ban on excavating sand, bajri and RBMS rivers nullahs and State land within the periphery of one km of all major structures like bridges, aqueducts, siphon and protection bund etc.
The order to this effect was issued by DDC Kathua here, today. As per the order the ban will also apply on local nallahs, within the distance of 150 meter periphery of culverts/ vented causeways for the period of two months from the date of issuance of the order.
The Tehsildars and all the SHOs of the district Kathua were directed for total compliance of the order. The order was issued by DDC in exercise of the powers vested in him under Section 144 CrPC. The DC Kathua inn his order mentioned that he had received a report of DC Pathankot (Punjab) regarding uncontrolled extraction of minor minerals like sand, bajri and RBM from Ravi river. Besides, the minor minerals were being extracted in close vicinity of motorable bridges, Railway bridges, and major hydraulic structures i. e siphons, protection bunds etc which are likely to cause damage to basements and superstructures.
The DC Pathankot has shown his serious concern in his letter written to DC Kathua towards the slips being issued by the Mining Officer, Kathua for the extraction from last four months despite the ban. Moreover, the Tehsildar Kathua in his report after the visit to various areas to ascertain the facts about illegal mining in his report had also shown concern over unlawful digging on State land causing pits and gorges on the spots endangering life of human beings and causing a great threat to environment.
The Tehsildar in his report had also submitted that a 13 year old boy died after drowning into a deep gorge at village Maksospur yesterday resulting into law and order problem. Moreover the serious concern was also shown during the various meeting on flood control measures wherein various officers and public reported indiscriminate quarrying in their areas.
The district administration had also got reports that proprietors of the stone crushers were indulging in illegal extraction in the river Ravi and other water bodies. Therefore to stop extraction of minor minerals within the limits of 500 meters , upstream and down steam from the proposed bridge over river Ravi at village Keerian Gandyal some stringent measures were needed to be taken.
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