Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Nov 10: With Government having no clear cut policy on mining in J&K UT and failure of the department to tighten its noose on violators, the mining mafia has a field day in Samba district as daily over 50 vehicles are involved in loading the sand from Basantar river in the Samba town and adjoining areas to sell the same in black at exorbitant rates.
According to sources, there is no check of administration especially the Geology and Mining Department on the land mafia in Samba district especially in Basantar river where illegal mining goes unabated since a pretty long time now.
Sources said soon after the fall of dawn daily scores of vehicles mostly trucks are seen engaged in loading of sand from the river bed of Basantar in Samba town and adjoining areas with both Geology and Mining Department and police looking as mute spectator. This all is being done under the nose of the police and the Geology and Mining officials but they hardly bother to act or take punitive action against the mining mafia.
Sources said that the illegal mining has posed a threat to flora and fauna in the area as the river bed has been dug at various places so deep that the water level has also depleted in the area. This is going to pose an ecological thereat but neither the environmentalists nor the social organisations show any concern over this grave issue.
Sources said mining mafia are looting people as per trolley of sand which was being sold for Rs 700 is being sold from Rs 1500 to Rs 2000 and even gravel which was earlier sold for Rs 1500 is now sold for Rs 2500 to Rs 3000. To hoodwink the authorities the mafia is now using trucks for loading illegal mining material from river Basanter as the material remains hidden in the truck so that they can cross nakas easily..
District Officer of Geology and Mining Department, Kulwant Singh Bhau said that he has joined only few days back. During the day, the officers of the department are active and the mining does not take place during the day. He said that he has intimated SSP Samba, Rajesh Sharma to take action against the mining mafia.
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