Saroor
Jammu, Oct 20: As the police have tightened noose against the illegal practices in the district at the prominent and identified locations but the under construction Jammu ring road is emerging as a new route for the illegal mining and bovine smuggling during night hours by dodging the police checkpoints in the peripheral areas.
Sources privy to the administration wished not to be quoted stated that despite the closure of the blocks in Jammu, the mining mafia is very much active as the smugglers have adopted a new strategy for illegal practice.
“The incomplete ring road is the new route for the mining mafia as heavy vehicles during the night hours indulge into the practice of illegal mining under the nose of the police,” sources said.
They revealed that the matter was also brought to the notice of the police department but no cognizance was taken till date.
The ring road covering Miran Sahib, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Satwari, Gangyal and Domana areas is being used for illegal mining at night, they said adding, “transportation of mining items especially on the above mentioned routes is being carried out illegally under the police’s nose but no action has been initiated as yet.”
“The mining mafia is actively participating in the illegal practice but why no action is being taken against them by the police and the administrative officers, is a million dollar question especially when the government has already started the online purchase of the mining items,” they added.
Notably, administration in May this year, legalised mining and after e-auction, the River Tawi bed alone is capable of adding on around Rs 200 crores every year in the state exchequer.
The mining legally for construction material has been permitted after a gap of seven years in the River Tawi for which 32 minor mineral blocks are identified in the bed, out of which approval has been sanctioned to seven blocks through single window system (e-auction)
“The elements like mining mafia, bovine and narcotic smugglers are taking full advantage of the ring road to carry illegal practices of which police need to take the cognizance and stern action at the earliest,” they said.
Mining earlier was allowed only for the construction of government buildings, adding, “the administration has gradually started permitting the contractors through e-auction bidding following which the required raw material will also be available in the market.”
On November 17, 2016, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court had imposed a complete ban on mining from the Tawi river on a PIL seeking to stop encroachment on the banks. Since then the Jammu city was dependent on the neighbouring districts for construction materials.
“In August 2022, nearly after six years, the High Court lifted the ban on mining from Tawi river and allowed the government to issue contracts for mining as per rules,” sources added and said that after signalled green from the High Court, the mining department initiated the process and identified 32 blocks for mining of minor minerals from Tawi river, whose auction is already in process.
Official sources further added that the Tawi river has been divided into 32 blocks by the Geology and Mining Department.
