Kathua, Feb 9: A team of geology and mining department, led by District Mineral Officer (DMO), Rajinder Singh seized seven vehicles including an excavator which were used in illegal mining here today.
As per the department, four vehicles were seized at Gandial and Bhagtali for transporting minerals without e-challans, one each at Lakhanpur and Taraf Tajwal and the excavator was seized from Sahar Khad areas for illegal excavation in late night hours.
The quantity of raw mineral and documents of seized vehicles were also verified by the officials of the mining department and accordingly seizure memos were issued to the violators as per the extant rules.
The DMO also informed that owners of 10 excavators and 150 vehicles used in illegal mining and illegal transportation have been penalised from various locations of the district in the last two and half months during day and night operations.