Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, July 24: The Committee on Public Undertakings (PUC) of Legislative Assembly, which is headed by a legislator of Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), has reportedly reprimanded the officials of departments, falling under the ministry headed by his party colleague.
The BJP legislator, who is Chairman of Committee on Public Undertakings (PUC) of Legislative Assembly, reportedly took serious view of rampant illegal mining going on in River Ravi and the decline in production and profit of JK Cements Limited, which are under control of Minister for Industries Chander Parkash Ganga. Sources in Legislative Assembly informed Early Times that on 21st of July, PUC of LA had held a meeting to discuss the audit of JK Cements Limited. The meeting was also attended by officers of Industry and Commerce department, while officials of various Corporations and sister departments including Geology and Mining department. Chairman of PUC, Rajiv Jasrotia, who is also Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Kathua constituency, reportedly took to task the Director of Geology and Mining. The Chairman, reportedly reprimanded the Director for their callous working, holding him responsible for giving an opportunity of illegal mining to the mafia and to secure stay order from court.
"The illegal mining activities are rampant in Kathua. Anticipating threat to their land, the villagers are reportedly spending nights in agriculture fields, but the mafia from Punjab, have been digging out fields. Vast tracts of agriculture land got vanished in night", PUC Chairman reportedly said.
Sources further said that PUC chairman also expressed concern over deep craters created in river Ravi, which have been posing serious threat to ecology and to farmers' land. "Why there is continuous extension over lease to contractors in Ravi river", the PUC chairman asked Director Geology and Mining and had also scolded them for giving liberty to the contractors, who secured stay in court over mining. Sources further said that PUC Chairman had also enquired about decline in production and profit of JK Cements Limited. "It was reported by the management of JK Cements that JK Cements was a profit making entity but in the last few years, its production and profit has declined. The Chairman inquired about causes", sources informed Early Times.
Moreover, sources said that PUC Chairman, had also taken serious view regarding Samba production plant of JK Cements, which was inaugurated in September 2014, but still production was not started. Rajiv Jasrotia is Chairman of Committee on Public Undertakings and other members are Mohammad Akbar Lone, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Javed Ahmed Rana, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Rajesh Gupta, Ravinder Raina, Mohamamd Yousuf Bhat, Avid Hussain Ansari and Syed Mohammad Baqir Rizvi. |
