KATHUA: A heavy excavator and dumper of NHAI contractor involved in illegal extraction near national highway bridge over Sahar Khad seized in Kathua here today. The action was initiated by District Mineral Officer (DMO) Kathua Rajinder Singh Rana who along with mineral guards was on his routine visit in Sahar Khad and adjoining areas to check the illegal mining activities.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua Rakesh Minhas was immediately apprised about the incident who further instructed DMO to immediately stop the excavation work and seize the Machinery involved in illegal mining.
Reportedly, the excavator had excavated a total of 500 MT of minor mineral from the Khad and as per the rules of the Geology and mining department, around 2 lakhs penalty shall be imposed on the machinery engaged for illegal and unauthorized mining. The seized excavator and dumpers handed over to police party sent by police station Kathua on the direction of Senior Superintendent of Police Kathua Shivdeep Singh Jamwal.