KATHUA: A team of geology and mining department, led by District Mineral Officer (DMO), Rajinder Singh seized seven vehicles including an excavator for indulging in illegal mining here today. As per the department, four vehicles were seized at Gandial and Bhagtali for transporting minerals without e-challans, one each at Lakhanpur and Taraf Tajwal and the excavator was seized from Sahar Khad areas for illegal excavation in late night hours.
The quantity of raw mineral and documents of seized vehicles were also verified by the officials of the mining department and accordingly seizure memos were issued to the violators as per the extant rules. The DMO also informed that a total of 10 excavators and 150 vehicles involved in illegal mining and illegal transportation have been penalized from various locations of the district in the last two and half months during day and night operations.
It was also informed that due to extreme strictness and harsh measures during day time, now the violators have been turned towards night hours and try to excavate and lift minerals during night for which the department always remains ready to take them to task. Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Rakesh Minhas has already issued instructions to the department for taking strong action against violators and imposing heavy penalties on them so that no one dares to steal the precious minerals.