KATHUA: A total of seven loaded vehicles involved in illegal mining were seized by District Mineral Officer (DMO) Kathua, Rajinder Singh Rana, from different locations here today. The surprise raids were laid by a team of Geology and Mining headed by DMO at Sakta Chak, Barnoti, Ghatti and Rajbag. Six tractor trollies and one dumper were seized and kept in the custody of police post Rajbag and Taraf Tajwal.
“The vehicles bearing registration JK08L-3967, JK08H-9366, JK08M-0998, JK08L-3592, PB35AJ-7354, JK08-7877 and JK08M-9381 along with mineral shall only be released after realization of penalty from them,” DMO informed.
During seizure, it was found that the vehicles had lifted material from Ujh river near four-lane bridge without obtaining Forms-A from the department and were on their way towards Ghatti Industrial Estate and other areas for making its sale at exorbitant rates.
DMO informed that there are four mineral leases in the Ujh River for supplying material at fixed rates and seven stone crushers for providing crushed mineral like sand, aggregate, dust, etc. But despite this, some violators turn towards illegal mining.