KATHUA, DECEMBER 11 (KNS): Mining Department on Sunday seized an Excavator involved in illegal excavation along Sahar Khad

Acting swiftly on inputs, the District Mineral Officer Rajinder Singh seized the machinery, here late in the evening.

On reaching the spot, it was found that the machinery had excavated over 600 MT muck from the Khad.

As per the DMO Kathua, some photos of  machinery excavating the illegal activity were doing rounds in the social media. Taking  cognisance of the matter, the team on reaching the spot, seized the machinery .

"This is third major action in the Sahar Khad from where 8 vehicles have already been seized by the Geology and Mining department during a night hour raid " the DMO informed .  He further added that similar action shall be taken as and when required to curb the menace of illegal mining.

The area of excavation was also measured by the officials of the mining department and found over 600 MT nallah muck lifted from the spot creating several pits and trenches in the Khad.

The excavator seized by the Geology and Mining department was kept in the custody of police post at Bedian Patan till realization of the penalty.(KNS)