Taking cognizance of illegal mining from State Land by some nefarious elements allegedly in connivance and conspiracy with the officials of concerned Government Departments, the State Vigilance Commission sought Action Taken Report from the Dy. Commissioner, Udhampur. Earlier, a complaint was lodged by one Godawari Devi of Muttal Udhampur against one Parshotam Singh a resident of Tikri Udhampur (Ex-employee of Revenue Department) regarding illegal extraction of stones and other valuable material from State Land bearing Khasra No. 158 min, measuring about 18 kanals and 14 marlas at village Muttal, District Udhampur with the active support and succour of officials of Revenue, Forest, Geology and Mining and some other related departments, resulting in huge loss to the State Exchequer, besides, considerable damage to the ecological balance of the area.
The State Vigilance Commission while perusing the complaint and the enquiry report prepared by the Additional Dy. Commissioner, Udhampur dated 24-06-2014 annexed with the complaint observed that the report prima-facie discloses dereliction of duties and misconduct on the part of officers/officials of above mentioned Departments, who instead of taking any legal action against the encroacher, as being custodians of the State property, facilitated him in illegal mining in league with each other amounting to misuse of official position and criminal breach of trust on the part of the said public servants.The Commission while taking serious note of illegal drainage of public resources by the violator in connivance with public servants, asked the Dy. Commissioner Udhampur that as to what action has been taken on outcome of the enquiry earlier conducted by the Addl. Dy. Commissioner, Udhampur in the matter. Further, the Dy. Commissioner, Udhampur has been directed to submit the compliance report to the Commission by or before next date of hearing. (CNS)