Kathua, February 25: District Mineral Officer Rajinder Singh today seized two heavy excavators involved in illegal mining here today.
Acting on a series of complaints lodged by local people of Keedian Gandiyal and Bedian Patan residing along Ravi River, Deputy Commissioner, Rahul Yadav passed instructions to DMO Kathua to launch a crackdown to seize the machinery.
After verification, it was also found that one excavator belonged to Punjab state and other to Kathua which carried out mining activities in Ravi river. There are massive deep pits in the Keedian Gandiyal and Beduan Patan areas due to illegal mining by the miners from Punjab and Kathua.
One seized excavator was handed over to incharge police post Keedian Gandiyal and other at Bedian Patan for further legal action as per the rules by the mining department.
Similar exercise was also done in Juthana and Jode Khad upstream Ujh river where action was initiated on two vehicles carrying minor mineral from local Nallah.
