jj correspondent
Jammu, Aug 20: A Mining Officer posted in a district of Jammu division is minting money at the cost of the State Exchequer. The Officer is short-charging the fines which are to be levied on the Contractors for violation of rules and regulations regulating the mining business in the area. Thus by collecting less revenue for the State, the short-charged amount is being divided amongst the mining officer and the Contractors.
This mining officer has made hefty deals with all the crusher owners and the excavating machine owners in his district. He operates with the assistance of such junior officers who earn huge monetary benefits for him. He has entrusted the job of collecting the money from various sources to some private persons who collect the monthly amounts settled with various crusher and machine operators in the district. This way he avoids the involvement of personnel of his department in this extortion business. In case in some cases the Police want to act against this mining mafia he does not provide any assistance to the Police for taking any action against the accused persons.
A complaint was filed against this Mining Officer in the Anti Corruption Bureau along with all proofs of his misdeeds but no action was taken against him. This officer is posted at this place for the last two years and is making a lot of money as the district is the hub of mining activity moreover mining material is exported to the neighbouring state from this district which doubles his income.
As per reports, this officer is posted in a very important district concerning the mining business. In this district, Punjab Mining Mafia is dominating the mining business as such this officer operates in connivance with the Punjab Mining Mafia. As per the rules and regulations of the Mining Department mining material cannot be transported without an “A” form but this officer has given them clear instructions that they can transport the mining material without obtaining form A this way he is making money for himself by looting the State Exchequer.
Some large construction Companies are executing big projects of national importance in the district and these companies lift huge quantities of mining material from the district the officer has made financial deals with these companies and in addition to cash the officer is found of expensive gifts and often sends his men to collect these fancy gifts from the officers of these companies.
Illegal mining is going on in this district without any check but this officer has not taken any action against the erring mining contractors. In case there is some specific complaint he makes the Contractors threaten the complainant. Despite a number of complaints being made against this mining officer, illegal mining is going on unabated in the area.
