UDHAMPUR: Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai, today chaired a meeting of the District Level Task Force Cell to review and strategize measures to curb illegal mining in the district.

The meeting was attended by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amod Ashok Nagpure, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Prem Singh, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Navneet Singh, Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Dr. Umesh Shan, District Mineral Officer, and other concerned officials.

During the meeting, the DC reviewed the status of operational mining blocks, identified illegal stone crushers, and marked hotspots of illegal mining. She called for stringent enforcement measures and emphasized the need for enhanced inter-departmental coordination to gather intelligence and take prompt action against violators.

The DC directed the concerned officers to ensure that challans are issued at the source in cases involving the seizure of illegal dumpers or any other unauthorized mining activities. She further instructed the authorities to conduct awareness programs to sensitize the public about verifying proper documentation before procuring mining minerals, ensuring the materials are legally sourced.