Excise Department plans to tackle illegal stone quarrying in Jammu and Kashmir

The Excise Department launched a drive on Friday to keep a check on illegal stone quarrying in Gandyal and Nagri areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, an official said.

Two trucks illegally transporting 'bajri' were seized by a team of the Excise Department, he said.

The drive was launched in compliance with a series of court judgments asking stone crusher units operating in Kerian Gandyal and Nagri and nearby areas of Kathua district to route their material through toll posts, he said.

Show cause notices were issued to all stone crusher units to comply with the order passed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, the official said.

The team led by ETOs Sandeep Gupta and Aamir Ayaiz Rather laid nakas at different points and chased the evading vehicles in a calculated and strategic manner, he added.