DM launches crack down on Illegal Mining, Land Use Conversion in Village Salmeri in Samba

Samba : District Magistrate Samba, Abhishek Sharma, on Tuesday led a decisive operation against illegal mining activities and unauthorized land use conversion in Village Salmeri, Tehsil Vijaypur, District Samba.
Acting on a complaint received by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, the district administration swiftly initiated a joint operation with the Revenue officers, the District Mineral officer, and the Police officials.
The Deputy Commissioner’s office received a complaint highlighting illegal activities involving unauthorized land use conversion and mining in the area. Determined to tackle these violations, the District Magistrate, accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner, Samba, SDM Vijaypur, DMO Samba, and Tehsildar Vijaypur, personally visited the site on Tuesday.
During the inspection, officials discovered multiple unlawful activities, including the illegal conversion of land use and large-scale mining operations without the requisite permissions. Moreover, a violation of the Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act, 2010 was observed, as the perpetrators had altered the course of a nearby Nallah in Village Pekhari.
To address these violations, the District Magistrate issued stringent directions to all Revenue officers and the District Mineral officer, urging them to take immediate legal action against the culprits in accordance with the relevant acts. The objective of these measures is to deter such illegal practices and safeguard the region’s natural resources.
Acting upon the District Magistrate’s directives, the district administration and the Police officials jointly conducted an operation to apprehend the offenders. As a result, an unregistered JCB (earth-moving equipment) was seized at the location where it was extracting minerals without any valid permission. Furthermore, the driver of the JCB was promptly arrested for his involvement in the illegal activity.
In light of the grave nature of the violations and the failure to report them to the appropriate authorities, the concerned halqa Patwari, PH Vijaypur, has been suspended with immediate effect. This action emphasizes the administration’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for their negligence.
The District Mineral officer, DMO Samba, has been entrusted with the responsibility of taking necessary legal action against the violators under the provisions of the law. The DMO has also reported instances of illegal land leveling without permission, demonstrating the persistence of illegal mining even after the joint inspection.
The District Magistrate, Abhishek Sharma, reiterated the administration’s unwavering stance against illegal mining and land use conversion. He asserted, “We will not tolerate activities that threaten our environment and exploit our natural resources. The district administration remains committed to preserving our rich heritage and protecting the welfare of our community. Strict actions will be taken against anyone found involved in these unlawful practices.”
The district administration urges the public to actively cooperate and report any suspicious activities related to illegal mining or land use conversion to the authorities. Citizen engagement is vital in ensuring the preservation of our valuable resources and fostering sustainable development.