KATHUA: In continuation with spate of raids one after another against sand mafia, team of Geology and Mining Department led by District Mineral Officer and Kathua Police visited at six mining spots in Kumri Kathera areas of district.

The team seized the spotted dumps of nallah sand raised on both sides of main road and near Kuthera bridge all having estimated quantity of over 1540 metric tons illegally lifted from Khad by the local tractors- trolleys owners of the area.

During seizures, some local people of neaby villages also informed that owners and drivers of tractor trolleys usually lift sand from Nallah without any permission of department, dump it in open fields and further sell it to contractors and construction agencies of other areas at wilful and overcharged rates thereby causing heavy exchequer loss.

Reportedly, a total of 15 tractor-trolleys were engaged in dumping nallah sand by using semi-mechanical tools and local labourers for which formal complaints were also lodged by prominent people of the area in DC Office.

Deputy Commissioner Rahul Pandey after taking cognizance of the matter of illegal dumping of nallah sand in Kumri Kathera, instructed DMO to conduct inspections of the area and seize the dumps if raised in violation of rules of Geology and Mining department.

The team of Geology and Mining Department has appealed to the local people to abstain from practices of illegal mining and illegal dumping of minerals and also do not step into Nallahs, rivers and Khads especially during rainy season as there is risk of flood and massive water flow any time.

The operations were undertaken under close supervision of SSP Kathua R.C. Kotwal.