BHIMBER (Kashmir English): A large delegation comprising over a hundred individuals from various villages met with Deputy Commissioner Bhimber, Chaudhry Haq Nawaz, and expressed concern over the mining lease.
Representatives from Haji Pura, Radiala, Dhamak, Malka Jattan, Chamba, Malpur, Kangra Chhatta, Kangra Khurd, Kangra Kalan, and Malot villages made up the delegation.
It told the Deputy Commissioner in writing that the lands of Union Council Malot are rapidly being submerged by water, largely due to the mining lease granted to local company Seven Star in the Kadhalah area.
According to the delegation, this lease is limited only to Kadhalah, but the company is forcibly extracting sand in the area of Union Council Malot, while local residents are being harassed. False complaints are being filed in police stations against locals, the delegation alleged.
The delegation members warned that if sand continues to be extracted in this manner, the private land of the area will also be washed away by the river.
DC assures cooperation
Deputy Commissioner Bhimber Chaudhry Haq Nawaz assured the delegation that immediate and effective action would be taken to resolve the issue.
He instructed Assistant Commissioner Barnala to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter and submit a report after hearing the views of all parties.
The delegation included political, social, and business figures from across the area, including Sikandar Iqbal, Asim Kayani, Tariq Mahmood, Muhammad Pervez, Muhammad Hussain, Muhammad Amin, Amjad Iqbal, Shafqat Mahmood, Shahzad Sultan, Muhammad Khurshid, Muhammad Riaz, Ruvid Nasir Ali, Wajid Hussain, and other prominent personalities.
