 EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 22: Commercial vehicle owners including that of JCB, dumper, tipper, tractor and trolley of Nagrota constituency, who have been rendered jobless by the government in view of restrictions imposed on lifting of sand and gravel from river beds today urged upon the government to review its order on ban of mining so as to save them from starvation.
Addressing a press conference here today, All JCB, Dumper, Tipper, Tractor, Trolley Owners and Workers Union Nagrota, Ch Bashir Ahmad Kohli said, “We agreed with all the decision of the government and welcomed abrogation of article 370, demonetization, GST and despite this we are facing a lot of hardship due to mine mafia and total ban of mining in Nagrota constituency.”
He said as per High Court decision if any vehicles found in illegal mining will be seized for six months in first attempt followed by one year for second attempt. “If any vehicle will be stopped for six months then how the owner of the vehicle should pay a bank loan with huge interest,” he said adding that this will create problems for thousands of families whose livelihood is linked with sand and stone mining.
He said the government lifted the ban in many districts but failed to take the same decision in favour of workers and owners of Nagrota constituency.
Briefing the media persons, Block Development Committee Chairman Nagrota Ch Rehmat Ali and Sarpanch Nagrota Kishore Sharma said that on one hand the government asked to start development works in each block but on the other hand imposed a ban on mining.
They said due to ban of mining, Panchayat members despite availability of funds failed to start any new development works as there is shortage of bajri, sand and other material.
They said that the ban on extraction and lifting of raw material including stones, sand, gravel and aggregate has not only created acute shortage of key construction material but has also put the developmental activities to a grinding halt in Nagrota.
They appealed to Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to review his decision and lift the ban on the extraction of sand and gravel in Nagrota.
Others present in the press conference include Sarpanch Khanpur Mohd Iqbal, Kulwant Singh, Rajinder Singh, Madan Lal Sharma and Naresh Sharma. |
