Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Mar 15: A total of 10 vehicles and one excavator involved in illegal mining were seized by District Mineral Officer (DMO) Rajinder Singh Rana from different locations of the district here, today.
The surprise raids were laid by team of Geology and Mining headed by DMO with the assistance of police officials at Lakhanpur, Taraf Tajwal, Keerian Gandial, Bhagtali and Nagri areas in which 10 vehicles and one JCB machine were seized and kept in the custody of police.
During seizure it was found that seven dumpers, two tractor trollies and one truck were transporting crushed mineral from stone crushers without e-challans and other documents required as per the rules of Geology and Mining Department.
It was informed that total of over two lakhs penalty was also imposed on JCB machine for excavating raw mineral for dumping at stone crusher from unauthorized location at Gandyal without any valid permission from the Department.
DMO further informed that there are 19 mineral leases in the district for supplying material at fixed rates and over 30 stone crushers for providing crushed mineral like sand, aggregate, dust etc. but despite this some violators turn towards illegal mining. The action was initiated on the instructions of Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Dr. Rakesh Minhas.
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