Despite ban, mining mafia continues to extract sand, gravel from Tawi

Poor Execution

Despite ban, mining mafia continues to extract sand, gravel from Tawi

Yash Khajuria

Jammu, Aug 31: Despite the ban has been imposed on the extraction of the extraction of sand, gravel from river beds in Jammu for the period of two months, the powerful mining mafia continues to indulge in illegal mining.

Extraction work continues in Tawi riverbed near Sidhra and Raipur Satwari areas of the city right from the wee hours,.

Pertinent to mention here that the District Magistrate (DM) Jammu, in exercise of powers vested on him under section 144CrPC,  had  imposed  ban on the extraction of Minor Minerals , like sand, gravel and RBM from the rivers  and also from the areas 150 meter upstream  and 100  meter  downstream of  the culverts , causeways over local Nallahs for a month of two months on August  30 right from the date of issuance of this order.

Sources said that due to illegal mining crores state exchequer is losing crores of rupees every month, but due to the nexus between the officials and people associated with the trade, the illegal work is going on.

After the inputs of uncontrolled extraction of the minor minerals from the riverbeds a ban has been imposed to keep a check on the uncontrolled extraction of Minor Minerals from local Rivers, Nallahs including river Tawi (both Nikkie Tawi and bade Tawi), Nallah near Sidhra Bye-pass Bridge, Jajjar Nallah , Kattal Battal , particularly in close vicinity of Motorable and Railway  Bridges, which is likely to cause damages to the basements and Super-structure of these bridges.

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate has asked the District Mineral Officer, Geology and Mining Department Jammu, besides Tehsildars  and Station House Officers  to ensure the compliance of the order and also make it sure that the  mining and quarrying shall  be strictly in conformity with the norms laid down by the Geology and Mining Department.

Regarding the illegal extraction of the minor minerals from the riverine areas when contacted to the Deputy Commissioner Jammu he did not responded despite several attempts.

However Additional Deputy Commissioner Ravi Shanker Sharma when contacted said that the extraction of the said material is banned in the 500 meters upstream areas of the Tawi Nallah and particularly in the close vicinity of motorable and railway bridges despite this if somebody violates the ban the eyewitnesses  should have to inform the authorities.

When asked about any special squads to keep vigil on the mining mafia he said that the administration did not constituted any special squad but the concerned SHO of the Police station and Tehsildar (Sub District magistrate ) has been authorize to take immediate action.