By Rahul Jamwal
JAMMU: Much talked illegal mining in river Tawi which have become a gold mine for sand mafia in Jammu operates with full patronage of political big wigs, police and senior bureaucrats, alleged Vikram Randhawa, an Ex MLC and a senior party leader of Bhartiya Janta Party.
In a presser, while levelling serious allegations against Ankur Sachdeva-DMO, Jammu of Geology and Mining Department, Vikram said “Entire bussiness of illegal mining is managed by this officer who collect money from sand mafia and distributes the booty as per decided share from different ranks of police, bureaucrats and close associate of a BJP leader”
Dragging name of his own party leader Dr Jatinder Singh, MoS in PMO in the mining mess, Randhawa alleged that DMO Jammu used to collect money on monthly basis from sand mafia and crusher units of Akhnoor and Jammu on behalf of Dr Singh.
He asserted that those who refused to oblige him were slapped with recovery notices worth lakhs. Tragedy with nearly 15 crusher units which were “operating as per laws” were forced to shutdown on frivolous grounds by the said DMO, Jammu as we refused to greased his palms, he added.
Adding that entire officers of G&M department are involved in this multi crore illegal mining bussiness, he questioned the silence of officers on low revenue of 6 crores on projects like four laning of Akhnoor road and Jammu to Muthi flyover when matter of the fact is that so far more than Rs 450 crores incurred on procuring minerals like sand and gravels. This is a tip of iceberg and we have concrete evidence to prove those involved in this multi crore nexus, Randhawa avers.
Meanwhile, Sanjeev Sharma who is Executive Member of BJP and Incharge Parliamentary Affairs for Dr Jatinder Singh has termed all allegations as baseless and threatened to file defamation case against Vikram Randhawa if later fail to come with proof in support of allegations.
Come with evidence to support your allegations within 24 hours else face defamation suit worth Rs one crore, Sanjeev Sharma, Executive Member, BJP and Incharge Parliamentary Affairs for Dr Singh.
Editor’s Take : There is no denying the fact that despite crackdown against mining mafia, this illegal bussiness worth crores is flourishing right under the nose of police, administration and Geology & Mining Department officers. The river Tawi is being plundered at full throttle. Showcasing recoveries of small fries is good for police but who will solve the allgebra equation of Rs 500 (SHO), Rs 1000 (DySP)/tipper. The matter is serious and warrants transparency. The LG Mr. Manoj Sinha need to act swiftly and order installation of high resolution cameras under Smart City Project on every entry and exit point of roads in Jammu to see whose bussiness runs from Dusk to Dawn (12pm to 5 am) in Jammu.