KATHUA, MAY 20: To curb the menace of illegal mining, District Mineral Officer Kathua Rajinder Singh today inspected different sites and seized 2 heavy excavators and three vehicles.
The seized excavators and vehicles have to pay around Rs 13 lakhs in the form of penalty to the mining department as per the laid down rules.
Among seized machinery, 2 heavy excavators involved in illegal mining were seized at Ujh River and 3 vehicles carrying sand and Bajri without valid documents. “It was an entire day's exercise wherein the team of the Mineral Department visited all the mining spots after taking assistance from police” an official said.
The team also checked the enforcement of notified rates of minor minerals and advised consumers to purchase minerals from legal sources only and stay away from illegal miners.
The seizures were made in continuance to the administration's tough stand against illegal mining.
