ADM sounds alert: Joint inspection teams to monitor mining activities

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Amit Mehra on Saturday emphasised the need for regular departmental monitoring and strict joint enforcement to curb illegal mining activities in Chamba district. He directed that joint inspection teams take stringent action against violators to ensure effective control over unauthorised mining.

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Mehra was chairing a review meeting of mining and revenue departments. The ADM said from April 2024 to June 2025 a total of 1,044 cases of illegal mining were registered across various departments. Action was taken in 773 cases and compounding fee amounting to Rs 27 lakh were recovered. Additionally, 242 cases were referred to the court.

He further said the Mining Department alone took action in 181 cases, recovering Rs 5.43 lakh as compounding fee in 125 cases, while 27 cases were sent to court. The department also conducted 306 surprise raids at sensitive locations during this period.

The Revenue Department collected Rs 1 lakh in compounding fees from 14 cases, while the Police Department led the enforcement efforts by registering 849 cases, out of which 634 cases were compounded with a recovery of Rs 20.5 lakh and 215 cases were sent to the judiciary.

The meeting was coordinated by JK Puri. Other attendees included Bharmour ADM Kulbir Singh Rana, Chamba SDM Priyanshu Khati, Bhattiyat SDM Paras Aggrawal and Dalhousie SDM Anil Bhardwaj.