Public hearing for Minor Mineral Mining held in Billawar

KATHUA, May 12: A public hearing for River Bed Mining was conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Pollution Control Committee (JKPCC) for Block No. 14 (8.98 ha) and Block No. 17 (9.11 ha) of Bhini River downstream at Neelam Palace, village Till in Billawar. The panel was chaired by Additional District Magistrate Billawar, Vinay Khosla.

The meeting began with a welcome address by Divisional Officer JKPCC Kathua, Surinder Kumar Tripathi, who briefed the public about environmental clearance for river bed mining. 

Participants from the surrounding area included BDC Chairman, Ashok Kumar Spolia; DDC Member, Vikram Singh; Panches, Sarpanches and other prominent persons.

Other participants who spoke on the occasion included Chairman MC Billawar Umakant Basotra, Social activist Advocate Jatinder Singh, and Sarpanch Parveen Raina. The main issues raised were regarding scientific mining, stopping overcharging and ensuring the survival of trees planted by mining proponents.

ADC Billawar, Divisional Officer JKPCC Kathua and DMO Kathua assured participants that their demands and issues would be considered and necessary action taken if required. ADC Billawar also assured that monthly meetings with allied departments would be organised to review these issues.

DMO Kathua assured the public that only approved rates would be charged and mining would be done on a purely scientific basis. Technical Officer to Regional Director JKPCC Hans Raj Galoach also tried to deliberate issues of public interest. Field Inspector JKPCC Narayan Singh Thakur presented a vote of thanks.