UDHAMPUR: To discuss the measures for curbing illegal mining in the district, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur Sachin Kumar Vaishya chaired a meeting of the Multi Departmental District level Task Force Committee, here on Tuesday. Speaking at the meeting, the DC said that excessive mining causes irreparable damage to the environment and there is a dire need to stop by taking stringent measures. There is a need to tighten the noose around the people who are causing loss to the state exchequer and larger public interest, he said.
The DC asked the concerned departments to step up vigil to keep check on illegal mining and take strict action against those found involved. He asked the enforcement departments to raise Nakas to plug all routes used to transport the illegally extracted minor minerals. “Identify the areas, places where illegal mining is carried out and ensure that systematic, scientific and only legal mining will be done in district” he asked the stakeholder departments.
The DC also directed the District Mineral Officer to formulate a plan of DMFT for the financial year 2023-24. Detailed deliberations were held on various other aspects related to progress and recommendations of the MDDLTFC for better coordination and enforcement with regard to illegal mining control measures. Collecting of report and status of illegal mining, FIRs and other observations/recommendations for the renewal of environmental clearance, Single window for the collection of various NOCs from stakeholder departments etc were discussed at length.