KATHUA/SAMBA: Secretary Mining, Amit Sharma, today conducted an extensive visit to the mining extraction areas of Kathua and Samba belts of the Union Territory wherein major National Highway projects like Delhi-Katra Expressway and Semi Ring Road works are going on.
He was accompanied by Managing Director, J&K Minerals Limited, and District Mineral Officers. The Secretary inspected multiple sites of crushers and supply of minor materials related to the ongoing prestigious projects of national importance.
The Secretary Mining took firsthand account of ongoing mining works for these projects during the field visit, the progress of which is being directly monitored by the top administration led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary, Dr Arun K Mehta.
Explicit directions were issued by Secretary Mining to all the departmental officers to ensure an uninterrupted supply of raw materials in these important works so that these National Highway projects can be completed well within the prescribed timelines.
During the visit, Secretary Mining also directed the departmental officers to hold regular meetings with stakeholders so that their issues can be resolved with spot redressal of the same wherever possible.
He also emphasised that there should be widespread publicity campaigns that should be carried out in all the twenty districts of the UT so as to popularise the Mining e-Marketplace platform. It can be accessed at geologymining.jk.gov.in with e-Challan as the basis of same with online payment and choice-based selection of suppliers for purchase of raw materials which has been created on the pattern of popular Amazon and Flipkart e-marketplaces.
Before culminating the visit, Amit Sharma assured the executing agencies for these prestigious National Importance Projects like Ring Road, Katra-Delhi Expressway, and others that Director Geology & Mining shall be ensured in the future that requisite mining materials shall be supplied uninterruptedly but at the same time, executing agencies also must ensure that they take mining-related materials from legal sources only.
