4-vehicles involved in transportation of illegal minerals seized in Poonch

Poonch: The District Mining Officer (DMO) Poonch, Javid Iqbal, on Tuesday seized four vehicles involved in transportation of illegally extracted minor minerals in different parts of the district.
The seizure was made after a series of inspections and surveillance operations conducted by the mining department in coordination with the civil administration and the police.
According to the DMO, the operation was carried out on the direction of the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Yasin M. Choudhary, to curb the menace of illegal mining and transportation of minerals in the district.
The DMO set up a Naka near the mining site at Draba and intercepted two dumpers carrying minerals without valid permits and documents. The DMO seized the dumper and handed it over to the police for safe custody.
During the operation, one tipper was seized at Jhulas with the joint coordination of the in-charge of the police post in Jhulas, and another tipper was seized at Chandigarh, which was taken into custody by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Surankote and later handed over to the police.
The DMO appealed to the vehicle owners and operators to refrain from engaging in illegal mining activities and obtain e-Challan from legal blocks to avoid any legal action. He also reminded them that no extraction of minerals would be allowed near bridges or other important government buildings to prevent any damage to the infrastructure and public property.
The DMO thanked the civil administration and the police for their support and cooperation in the seizure operations and reiterated the commitment of the mining department to promoting transparency, accountability, and social responsibility in the mining sector and ensuring equitable and inclusive development in the district.