A team of Geology and Mining department, headed by District Mineral Officer Kathua seized a heavy excavator machine and four Dumpers from Bani Nallah besides 2 more dumpers at Ding Amb involved in illegal mining and illegal transportation of minerals.

As informed by DMO Kathua, the action was taken on the complaint lodged by PRI members about illegal mining by stone crusher in Bani Nallah.

“The excavator had excavated and lifted a total of 3300 MT of Nallah muck below the water level thereby causing serious loss to water body and land on the both sides of Nallah. The huge sum of penalty was calculated for the pits and excavated material”, the DMO informed.

He further said that the seized machines and dumpers have been kept in the custody of Police Station Bani and Chadwal Kathua till realization of penalty from violators,