Rs 15 lakh fine recovered for illegal mining in Ravi river

Jammu, February 1

The Geology and Mining Department has recovered over Rs 15 lakh fine after seizing heavy machinery involved in illegal mining near stone crushers in Ravi river on Thursday.

A team of department officials led by District Mineral Officer (DMO) Rajinder Singh through approach road raided the digging site in Ravi river at midnight and seized machinery, which included three dumpers and a heavy chain machine.

Immediately after seizing the machinery, the deep large pits and diggings were also measured and it was found that 5500 MT of river bed material has been excavated from the piece of land on the premises of two stone crushers.

Earlier, a complaint was also lodged by local inhabitants of Taraf Tajwal regarding illegal movement of dumpers and chain machines in Ravi river for digging and lifting material for crushing at the stone crusher.

The DMO informed that 12 chain machines and hundreds of vehicles involved in illegal mining have been seized besides recovering heavy penalties from them for the environmental and mineral loss.

DMO further informed that the action has been taken as per the MM (DR) Act of 1957 and SRO-105 of 2016 wherein powers have been delegated to officers for controlling illegal transportation of mineral and illegal mining activities.

Kathua DC Rakesh Minhas has already asked the DMO to carry out regular inspections of vehicles and machines associated with mining and do not spare any violators involved in illegal mining or illegal transportation of minerals.