KATHUA, NOVEMBER 24 (KNS): Acting swiftly on complaints of illegal mining lodged by locals, District Mineral Officer Kathua Rajinder Singh along with mining guards today seized the machinery involved in illegal mining.

As per the DMO, the team rushed to the spot and seized a JCB machine and a tipper besides recovering a penalty of Rs 14 lakh  for illegal digging and dumping from the perpetrators.

The area of excavation was also measured by the officials of the mining department and found over 5000 MT nallah muck lifted from the spot thereby creating a large number of pits and trenches in the Khad with visible exchequer loss.

DMO Kathua said that both vehicle and excavator were seized  as per the rules of Geology and Mining department and  kept in the custody of police post at Hatli Morh till realization of penalty from violators.

The DMO also informed that the Mining Department has also retained Punjab Based Dumpers for over a month involved in illegal transportation of minerals from Ravi River.(KNS)