Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Feb 14: Locals protested against the mining mafia operating in violation of court orders and using JCB machines for mining in Birma River at Battal Balian area in Udhampur district.
The protesting people alleged that some stone quarries were using JCB in the river round the clock and collect gravel, sand and stones from the river bed. They 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 rivers 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.
The protest was joined by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Vijay Kumar, Mohan Lal Sharma, Kuldeep Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Mushtaq Mohd, Ravi Kumar, Deep Kumar, Chain Singh, Amit Sharma, Mohd. Aslam, Shiv Dev Singh and others.
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