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| Illegal mining continues to make fortunes for crusher owners, mining mafia | | |  ASIF IQBAL NAIK
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 20: Despite clear cut directions from the government as well as the courts with regard to blanket ban on mining viz extraction of stones, sand, marvels, mud and other raw material in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the mining mafia in Doda District of Jammu province continues to make fortunes for themselves.
However, the government machinery is turning blind eye towards the open loot of Government resources raising direct fingers on all these officials under whose nose the illegal mining is flourishing in Doda District including in the areas falling all along Doda-Thathri, Thathri-Gandoh, Doda Bhaderwah, Thathri-Kishtwar, axis of the National Highway along with the areas around river Chenab at Banderkoot, Chatroo, Kishtwar-Paddar road and other areas.
As per the details available with Early Times, hundreds of trucks filled with sand, stones, mud, marvels and other raw materials are operating illegally on various roads in Doda and Kishtwar District without paying any royalty to the government as Geology and Mining Department continuously turned blind eye towards all these activities of the illegal mafia that are calling the shots even during pandemic.
It is not only the illegal mining which is going on in twin Districts of Doda and Kishtwar number of illegal stone crushers could be seen operating in Khara, Prem Nagar and other areas in Doda in violation of the rules and regulations.
The illegal mining is not only going on all along the beds of river Chenab, but also in state land where mining mafia could be seen extracting stones and other raw material and same is being supplied to even government departments to carry out the developmental activities in the area.
Speaking to Early Times, the whistleblower inform that he even filed a written complaint before Deputy Commissioner Doda, adding that acting on his complaint DC Doda vide order No. 1501-21/DM/Doda/2019 Dated 16-9-2019 issued prohibitory order under Section 144 Cr.Pc in District Doda regarding ban on dumping of the construction material like sand, bajri, stones, bricks on the major roads of Doda.
He said that despite repeated requests to DC and concerned authorities to stop the practice of illegal mining and dumping of same on road sides, no action has been taken.
The whistleblower alleged that District Mining Officer (DMO) stationed at Khelani is also hand in glove with the mining mafia as the DMO is allowing the contractors to collecti the material from River Chenab and State Land and demanded high level inquiry and action against the culprits involved in illegal mining.
The whistleblower said that the contractors, stone crusher owners, officials of Geology and Mining Department, Police and officials in administration are all on same page facilitating the illegal activities causing losses to the tune of several crores to government exchequer.
The whistleblower said that DC Doda few weeks ago thus issue notice inviting tender for allotment of queries for extracting of mining viz Sand & Stones within jurisdiction of Doda on lease bases, adding that instead of putting gag on continuous illegal mining and illegally running stone crusher, the practice is still going on.
Despite repeated attempts the senior officials in Geology and Mining department could not be reached out for their comment.
However a junior employee in the department told the Early Times, that due to shortage of staff it is impossible to touch each and every corner of Doda and Kishtwar.
He said department from time to time had initiated action against those involved in illegal mining, but failed to answer the straight question with regard to open dumping of sand all along road side to which the department as well as administration are continuously turning blind eye. |
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