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| BJP smells foul in mineral exploration | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 23: Bhartiya Janta Party has alleged loot of mineral wealth in the gypsum mines of Doda and Kishtwar and asked for a high level inquiry in allotment of contracts.
Giving details of the nexus between the higher officials of JK Minerals Limited, Geology and Mining and revenue department, BJP Bali Bhagat said that Assar Gypsum Mine, a unit of J&K Minerals Limited, had been running in profit since 1974. The officials of JK Minerals and others hatched a conspiracy to hand over the extraction work of 318 kanals of Assar Gypsum Mine to M/S Baba Farid-Ud-din Bhagdadi, a Kashmir-based firm on lease basis for 20 years in the year 2006. While in the official records, it is 318 kanals, but on ground the firm has acquired 960 kanals of state land to extract gypsum. It can not happen without the active involvement of the higher authorities of JK Minerals Limited, Department of Geology & Mining and revenue authorities.
Bali Bhagat stated that 100 kanals of land for extraction of gypsum is given on lease for a period of 20 years on one time payment of rupees 25-30 lakh while the monthly income comes out to be 25-30 lakh rupees per 100 kanals. If calculated, in 20 years, the firm is earning 60 crores annually per 100 kanals and for 960 kanals it crosses hundreds of crores. He said the decision to lease out the land to a private firm is causing loss of crores of rupees to the state exchequer which is a matter of grave concern.
The BJP leader further stated that leasing out of land has directly and indirectly affected thousands of people of the area.
Expressing his serious concern over the decision of the JP Industries to retrench 2630 local employees in one go while not disturbing non-locals, Bali Bhagat demanded their readjustment immediately. He also reminded the JP Industries of their commitment to provide permanent employment in PDC department to those who donated their lands to the firm.
Bali Bhagat also took the PDC department to task for not rehabilitating the families which got affected due to construction of Baglihar Hydro electric project despite the fact that the PM has commissioned its first phase and the poor people are running from one table to other seeking their rehabilitation but no one cares. He also asked the concerned authorities to explain as to why the work on Trungal and Marsoo foot suspension bridges has not been started despite the fact that the former CM Ghulam Nabi Azad laid foundation stone of Trungal Bridge one year ago but till date the fate is hanging. He criticized the PDD and PDC authorities for not restoring the power supply to Bhartund, Bibrota, Chaka, Kundi, Sattra, Thatha, Chilayee, Budhani, Dugnaal, Ganote, Shadaani, Dugga and Diyargali villages of Saraj area of Doda tehsil, where the people has not seen light for the last one month.
Bali Bhagat appealed the State Governor to personally visit the area and see himself the plight of the people there. |
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