Deputy Commissioner (DC), Kupwara, Anshul Garg today convened a meeting of concerned officers to review the progress of Geology & Mining Department (GMD), here.The meeting was informed that 64 vehicles including 40 Tippers, 20 Tractors and 4 JCB’s, engaged in illegal mining across the district have been seized by the team led by District Mineral Officer (DMO) with active support of Revenue and Police authorities during last 40 day.It was further informed that an amount of Rs.10, 81,260 have been recovered so far as fine under the provision of SRO 105 0f 2016 from the owners of these vehicles and credited to the government exchequer.The DC said that the Department of Geology and Mining is being further streamlined in the district and the process of e-auction of 17 Mineral Blocks is underway for which the last date of online bidding has been fixed as June 20,2020.He further said that the formalities for e-auction of 9 blocks of Nallah Mawar have already been completed and final approval is awaited from Directorate of Geology and Mining.
DC on the occasion directed the concerned officer to further gear up men and machinery to put complete curbs on illegal extraction of mining material, he also directed police authorities to provide proper support to the Geology and Mining Department to make the operation successful.The DMO informed the meeting that during last financial year the department realized an amount of Rs 67.95 lakh which include Rs.35.47 lakh as fine and Rs 32.48 lakh as Royalty and added that ban on illegal extraction and transportation of minor minerals shall continue till process of e-auctioning is completed.He informed that checking teams of the department are continuously making raids and will continue to do the same to curb the illegal extraction and transportation of minor minerals in the district.Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Nazir Ahmad Lone, District Mineral Officer, and other concerned with present in the meeting.