Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Mar 9: The residents of Juthana and its adjoining areas held a strong protest against the raising of a mining block in Juthana river area. The heated exchanges also took place between villagers and District Mining Officer, Kathua, Rajinder Singh, as the villagers were objecting to mining in Juthana area to save environment and inhabitants.
When a team of Geology and Mining Department led by DMO Kathua, Rajinder Singh reached Juthana to assess the ground situation to raise new mining block under security cover, the villagers also assembled at mining site and protested.
They strongly opposed the exercise of mining Department to raise a mining block in local Khud. The villagers said that this place is not suitable for mining. It will hit environment, fauna and flora and directly hit the farmers who are cultivating their land to earn their livelihood.
The Department could not raise mining block as the Panchyat members have already given written objection in this regard the protestors said.
Even the DDC Chairman, Col Mahan Singh on phone urged the DMO in presence of public to cancel this proposal if local public is not interested to raise mining block.
When DMO Kathua showed adamancy, the heated exchange took place between him and villagers late this evening. The DMO challenged to continue his exercise to raise block. But the villagers also warned to stop this exercise in interest of local people otherwise mass scale agitation would be launched against Department.
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