JAMMU | Aug 6, 2017: Police seized twelve tractor trolleys loaded with sand and gravel late last evening in Gandoh Sub Division as the illegal mining is going on under the nose of District Geology and Mining Authorities Doda, despite the ban imposed by the Deputy Comm-issioner Doda and Sub Divisional Magistrate, Gan-doh.

Official sour-ces said that going tough on the mafia involved in illegal mining in Kalgoni and Gandoh Nalla, the SDM Gandoh, Dil Mir Choudhary vide his order No. SDM/G/PA/17/ 1420-24, dated 28-07-2017, directed SHO Gandoh Tahir Khan and concerned SDPO, Sunny Gupta to implement the order strictly with regard to the ban on illegal mining in these Nallahs, It was also learnt that these people were operating mainly during late evening and night hours.

The police parties during late evening operation seized eight tractor trolleys from Gandoh Nalla. The police also seized the documents. Four more trolleys were seized from another nallah.

I/C DMO, Doda, Moti Lal Pandita when contacted said that he was aware of the matter but he do not have sufficient staff to keep check on illegal mining in Gandoh block. When asked that some people on behalf of department were collecting royalty illegally as informed by police, he expressed ignorance over the matter and said he had not deployed any staff or any local there for collecting royalty. But maintained that he had written o the administration about illegal mining and police took action on their request.

SHO, Gandoh Tahir Khan when contacted said that they seized eight trolleys last night because a ban has been imposed on the illegal mining in the area by SDM Gandoh and the police has complied with the order. He said four more trolleys were seized from another nallah during last night and some people collecting royalty illegally have also been identified. The action is being taken against them. When asked is there any written request from the DMO, Doda regarding action to be taken against people indulging in illegal mining, the SHO said they have never requested or written to us for this matter. SDM, Gandoh Dil Mir Chouadhary said that there is total ban imposed by him and DC Doda on any type of illegal mining activity in this Gandoh Block. ” We had directed the Police to take strict action against the mafia indulging in this activity. The police has started doing its work. The concerned G&M office had also sought help in this regard few months back. They have not auctioned the Gandoh block to anybody and theft is going on there and they are also losing revenue worth lakhs every month,” the ADM added.

(Source: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/)