Despite HC ban, illegal mining in Tawi goes on

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 2: Despite a ban by the High Court of J&K and Ladakh and throwing mining norms/rules to the wind, illegal mining continues in the river Tawi by the mafia.
This illegal activity is not being carried out at some isolated place ahead of Sidhra Bridge or below the main bridge of Fallayen Mandal (Tawi Island) during only night hours but in the broad day light just between the Main Tawi bridge near Bikram Chowk and fourth bridge of Bhagwati Nagar, hardly 200 to 300 meters (upstream) away from the 4th Tawi bridge of Jammu City.
The pictures clicked by the Excelsior staffer at 5.27 pm on Thursday, spotted not only two or three but eight tractor trolleys loading sand from the river bed hardly 300 to 350 mts down stream the main Tawi bridge near Bikram Chowk. This illegal mining operation is going on under the nose of field staff of the Geology and Mining Department, apparently with the connivance of of some insiders. Even the local police fails to take cognizance of the matter, despite clear directives from the High Court.
It is pertinent to mention here that under mining norms and the instructions from the Highway Authorities, the mining activity within 500 mts above and downwards of any important bridge is totally banned. G&M Department, the District police or even the District or Sub Divisional Magistrate can take action in this regard, but the mining mafia is carrying out this illegal activity without any fear from these agencies.
District Mineral Officer, Jammu, Varinder Singh when contacted said that he came to know about the matter. Today during the day, their team went to the site but the trolley operators hurled stones on the staff and managed to escape. He admitted that there is ban by the court on any mining activity in the area below Sidhra bridge up to downstream of 4th bridge.
DMO further said that a private company working on the river front has engaged some machines there and have opened the river passage. The Trolley operators are taking benefit of this opened passage and manually load the trolleys and escape. He said that Department will cognizance of the matter.

The post Despite HC ban, illegal mining in Tawi goes on appeared first on Daily Excelsior.

News