Last Updated on December 5, 2023 at 6:33 pm
Cracking down against illegal mining activities, a team of Mining department led by District Mineral Officer (DMO) Kathua Rajinder Singh Rana seized 10 loaded dumpers at Kathua here today.
During the operation, the team visited multiple locations from where the vehicles loaded with crushed mineral are dispatched to their destinations in Punjab and seized all vehicles which were later handed over to police till realization of penalty from them.
During seizure, it was also found that all the dumpers were carrying expired e-challans of various crusher units with them which were also verified on the spot from the official portal of the department.
The DMO informed that no crusher unit is allowed to operate and load vehicles during night hours in the district and instructions have already been issued to work during day time but due to no entry in Punjab, the vehicles wait for long time and their e-challans get expired.
District Mineral Officer also informed that the action has been initiated as per the MMDR Act of 1957 and SRO-105 of 2016 wherein powers have been delegated to officers for controlling illegal transportation and illegal mining activities.
Earlier, over 300 vehicles and heavy excavators have already been seized by the department from Ujh, Tarnah, Sahar Khad, Ravi and other areas in the district for their involvement in illegal mining and illegal transportation of mineral.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua Dr. Rakesh Minhas has already instructed the Geology and Mining department to keep check on vehicles involved in transportation of mining material and no one should be spared, if found guilty of illegal mining.
