Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: In a major crackdown on illegal mining, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted joint surprise checks for two consecutive days at several stone crusher units in Udhampur and Reasi districts.
Officials said the action was taken following complaints of large-scale extraction of minerals in parts of the Jammu division.
They said preliminary inputs had indicated a possible nexus between some mineral bidders and officials of the Mining and Ecology Departments, allowing unlawful activities to continue unchecked.
Accordingly, teams of ACB, led by gazetted officers, carried out coordinated inspections at multiple locations in Udhampur and Reasi districts, they said.
During the raids, officials seized electronic gadgets, important records and several incriminating documents from the sites. The sleuths also recovered a number of allegedly forged ‘Form A’ transit passes which are used for the transportation of minerals.
Officials further said all the inspected stone crusher units were found involved in illegal mining and were operating in violation of the laid-down norms and conditions.
The violations, they said, have caused serious environmental damage in the area.
Meanwhile, the ACB has started further investigation to examine the role of the persons involved and to verify the seized records.
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