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| Non-fixation of boundary limits along river Ravi costs JK dearly | | Exchequer suffers huge losses on account of wanton extraction of minor minerals by Punjab | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec 24: The non-fixation of boundary limits in the River Ravi has been costing the exchequer of Jammu and Kashmir dearly as quarry operators along Punjab side have been involved in wanton extraction of minor minerals even from otherwise limits of new Union Territory since long.
Though the Jammu and Kashmir administration has so far been engaged in granting environmental clearing the identified stretches along Ravi River in view of lease of the same for extraction but along Punjab side, thousands of dumpers could be seen transporting minor minerals on routine basis.
According to sources, the Ravi river is the link dividing the boundary of Jammu and Kashmir with Punjab in district Kathua but there is no fixation of limits of the river which fall under Punjab or the Jammu and Kashmir side.
“In absence of any clear fixation of boundaries, the earth movers of Punjab have been extracting minor minerals from different areas as per their sweet will. As there are large numbers of stone quarries operating along river Ravi in Punjab’s side, they have been operating to their fullest. During the evening as well as night hours, long ques of large dumpers could be seen along Madhopur-Amritsar National highway near Dinanagar. Sometimes the ques spread for over two kilometres and the minor minerals from Ravi River has been supplied to entire Punjab, Himachal, some areas of Haryana as well as Rajasthan”, an operator said.
He further said that the quarry operators of Punjab have been facing scarcity of minors at their side but during night hours, they barged into J&K limits to extract minors as the officials of Geology and Mining department could not be available to monitor extraction during night hours due to shortage of manpower and other hurdles.
“The extraction of minor minerals by the JK authorities has not begun so far, while many stone quarries have been closed down due to violation of environmental norms. This way UT exchequer has been siphoned off by Punjab quarry operators and there is no near possibility of putting a break on such loot”, an official said.
District Mineral Officer (DMO) Kathua was not available for comments as his phone was switched off. |
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