POONCH, Jan 23: In an effort to ensure adherence to environmental regulations, the District Mineral Officer (DMO) of Poonch has recently levied significant fines on various stone crusher operators, leaseholders, and a government entity due to breaches of regulations.
A total penalty of ₹37 lakh has been applied to stone crushers and ₹2 lakh to leaseholders for failing to observe operational and environmental standards, as well as mining lease agreements. Furthermore, an additional ₹2 lakh fine has been imposed on a government company for its non-compliance with operational guidelines.
To bolster compliance with mineral exploitation statutes and encourage sustainable mining practices, the DMO has also issued a penalty notice totaling ₹25 lakh to stone crusher unit operators throughout the Poonch district for breaching established regulations.
The DMO stressed that these measures aim to guarantee that mining activities are undertaken in an environmentally responsible manner and to enforce the payment of owed royalties.
