Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Feb 23: Locals protested against the mining mafia operating in alleged violation of court orders and using JCB machines for mining in Birma nallah at village Ladyala in Battal Balian area of Udhampur district.
The protesting people alleged that some stone quarries were using JCB in the river round the clock and collecting gravel, sand and stones from the river bed.
“This mining mafia is using JCB machines for mining in village Battal to Ladyala, about five km area, which has caused erosion of soil on banks of this river and Kali Mata temple is also severely damage due to illegal mining in this area,” they said and appealed the Lieutenant Governor to strictly deal with the mafia and save the river.
Some environmentalists also joined the protest and said that increasing illegal mining of sand and stone from the river beds has deepened the bed level of the river thus decreasing the water retention capacity which will lead to water crisis in many parts of the district in future. “The problem is posing a grave threat to ecology due to failure of the concerned authorities to take action against the illegal mining in the Udhampur district,” they said.
According to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Dr Piyush Singla, orders have been issued to DMO for inquiry into the matter and necessary action would be taken against the culprits if anything illegal was being done.
The protest was joined by Panch Shear Singh, Panch Sham Lal, Panch Shoba Lata, Mohd Kasim Panch, Panch Ruksana Beagam, Master Ved Prakash Sharma, Padam Dev, Sanjeev Kumar, Girdhari Lal, Naresh Kumar, Mastar Sharf Din, Romesh Kumar, Mansha Mohd, Hanif and others.
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