Pampore: The Revenue Department and Geology and Mining Department seized six heavy earth-moving machinery and 2 JCBs engaged in illegal mining during the night raids in the Pampore Tehsil area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district late Friday night.
In a major crackdown against illegal mining, Tehsildar Pampore Zuber Ahmad Bhat (KAS) along with the Geology and Mining Department Pulwama seized six LNT machines and 2 JCBs at Wuyan village of Pampore, officials told Kashmir Reader.
The seized machines and JCBs were handed over to the officials of the geology and mining department for further legal action, Bhat said.
In recent actions, the G&M Department Pulwama seized several vehicles in the Pulwama district. These vehicles were used in illegal mining, extraction, and transportation of raw materials illegally extracted during this operation.
Taking swift action on a complaint regarding illegal mining at Malangpora Awantipora during night hours, DMO Pulwama Er Mohammad Manzoor and his team seized an Excavator Chain Type machine and 3 vehicles at Charsoo Awantipora during the intervening night of September 21 and 22.
The operation against the illegal mining and transporting of raw materials is going on in different areas of the Pulwama district. The department has asked drivers to purchase minerals from legal sources only and stay away from illegal mining practices.

BILAL HABIB