Zero tolerance policy against illegal mining
MASROOR AHMAD
SRINAGAR: Unabated mining has become a major environmental issue in the Valley. It has a direct bearing upon the losses in the Union Territory. Many experts are of the opinion that illegal mining results in massive revenue loss to the public exchequer. It is a fact that unregulated and illegal mining of minerals are undertaken without the proper permission from the concerned authorities.
According to the government’s policy, mining cannot be carried out without proper permission, but mafia’s are active without any kind of threat and fear.
As part of its commitment to ensure zero percent illegal mining in the entire Valley, the Department of Geology & Mining has intensified night raids across Kashmir division.
Acting tough against the persons involved in illegal extraction and transportation of minerals, the field staff of the department under supervision of respective District Mineral Officers (DMOs) along with Police has seized a large number of excavators, dumpers, l&T machinery involved in illegal transportation/ mining from District Ganderbal, Pulwama and Budgam during intervening night of 9th and 10th September, 2023.
During these drives, 11 seizures from district Ganderbal, 04 L&T chain type excavators from District Budgam and 04 L&Ts from District Pulwama have been booked under relevant laws of illegal mining and later on handed over to respective police authorities to proceed as per law.
The department has made its policy to eradicate the menace of illegal mining and no violations of any type shall be tolerated with regard to illegal mining, and whosoever is found involved in illegal mining shall be dealt with in case they continue to repeat the offence, read an official handout.
As such the public is requested to take full advantage of the department’s online services and purchase the material from legal sources as identified by the Department of Geology and Mining, further the cooperation of the general public is imminent to achieve full control over illegal mining from Kashmir Division.