KATHUA: Acting tough, the Mining and Geology Department has imposed a Rs 18 lakh penalty on the Vasudev stone crusher for illegal digging and mining by using two heavy excavators in the Taraf Tajwal area of the Ravi River here today.
During a late night check alongside Ravi River, the team of the Mining Department, led by District Mineral Officer (DMO) Rajinder Singh seized both excavators and loaded and unloaded dumpers from the mining site.
The huge machinery of the stone crusher including two heavy chain machines and two dumpers was brought to the police post in Bhagtali for safe custody. The drivers of the other four dumpers and one JCB fled from the mining site.
The DMO informed that after seizing the vehicles including excavators, the mineral raised on the site and dug pits were also measured and accordingly penalty was imposed as per the MM(DR) Act of 1957 and SRO-105 of 2016 and also in the light of NGT and other orders of courts.
It is pertinent to mention here that one lease has been sanctioned in private land on the bank of Ravi but the stone crusher was excavating minerals one km away from the lease-out areas, besides dispatching dumpers towards the Punjab side without e-challans.
Meanwhile, a notice has also been served upon the owner of the stone crusher to show cause for bringing massive minerals as well as environmental degradation in the Ravi River where replenishment of minerals is not possible during the rainy season.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Dr Rakesh Minhas already instructed the mining department to take stringent measures to curb the menace of illegal mining and illegal digging anywhere in the River beds or other areas of government as well as private land.
