 ANKIT KESSAR
EARLY TIMES REPORT
RAJOURI, Sept 4: The Panchyati Raj Institution (PRI) members of district Rajouri alleged that under patronage of Geology and Mining Department Officials the illegal mineral extraction goes unabated in different areas/villages of the district while the authorities are acting as mute spectators.
They accused authorities of inaction against the ‘vested interest elements’ who according to them resort to illegal extraction of sand and other minerals.
Dheeraj Sharma, Sarpanch Upper Dhangri Panchyat informed Early Times that the owner of stone crushers in the district are extracting sands, stone and other minerals illegally from various blocks of Munwar and others rivers the district and its tributaries, but despite repeated requests no has bet taken yet.
“The JCB’s are openly extracting the stones from Bindi Jamola area of the district, and other places as well, while the authorities don’t even bother to reach the spot to take action against them.
It seems that the authorities are hand-in-glove with these elements as no action is being taken against them,” said Akis Naseer Sarpanch Lower Jamola.
They said illegal extraction was going on round the clock and the noise of tippers, tractors and other machines used for extraction is not letting them to sleep at night.
They said the extraction continues in the area with any ‘hurdle’ continuously, we time and again approached the officials of geology and mining department, revenue department and police but so far nothing has been done on ground.
“Geology and Mining is main department, while Irrigation and Flood Control Department and Fishery Department can also intervene, but all these department are acting like mute spectators”, they said, adding that the officials of Geology and Mining stayed here for years and have amassed huge wealth by contributing in loot of natural resources.
“We appeal to the Lt Governor to constitute a high level committee to access the loses occurred to bridges, dug wells and soil erosion taken place due to illegal mining”, they added.
DMO Rajouri, J S Pawar when contacted said that due to shortage of manpower, the department is not in position to keep check all the time. “In the district there are hundreds of places, where extraction take place, we cannot supervise all at once, but of course our men are always on job to taken actions against the mafia”, he added.
Meanwhile, Executive Engineer, IFC Rajouri Sagir Malik when contacted said that they have taken up the matter with concerned department and Police time and again. “The office has served notice up the crusher owners and the other departments, but still the extraction are going on”, he added.
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